Gender differences regarding peer influence and attitude toward substance abuse

Abstract

Gender role socialization differentially influences attitudes toward substance abuse for boys and girls. Students (n = 968, 456 = males, M age = 16.20, SD = 1.20) were administered a questionnaire to assess their perceptions of attitudes toward substance abuse. Boys' approval was significantly different than the level of approval estimated for girls on teenagers drinking beer or wine coolers χ2(4,n = 931) = 418.58, p < .00001, drinking hard liquor χ2(4,n = 921) = 432.49, p < .00001, driving after drinking χ2(4,n = 924) = 492.32, p < .00001, smoking marijuana χ2(4,n = 921) = 609.62, p < .00001, smoking cigarettes χ2(4,n = 927) = 480.35, p < .00001, taking diet pills to lose weight χ2(4,n = 914) = 185.05, p < .00001, and taking diet pills to get high χ2(4,n = 921) = 428.43, p < .00001. Teens viewed getting drunk at a party as more acceptable than driving after drinking 2(4,n = 921) = 264.10, p < .00001, but gave boys more approval than girls for driving altar drinking. Possible implications of these findings are discussed.