Addictive behaviors and psychological distress among adolescents and emerging adults: A mediating role of peer group identification
Objective: Research suggests the sense of belonging to primary groups functions as an important social resource for youth well-being, but it can be compromised among those dealing with addiction. The current study examined how adolescents' and emerging adults' identification with a primary...
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doaj-a4ec758dfdd74ee88bba70b7fd8ec0b72020-11-24T20:54:32ZengElsevierAddictive Behaviors Reports2352-85322018-06-0177581Addictive behaviors and psychological distress among adolescents and emerging adults: A mediating role of peer group identificationIina Savolainen0Markus Kaakinen1Anu Sirola2Atte Oksanen3Corresponding author.; Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, FinlandFaculty of Social Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, FinlandFaculty of Social Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, FinlandFaculty of Social Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, FinlandObjective: Research suggests the sense of belonging to primary groups functions as an important social resource for youth well-being, but it can be compromised among those dealing with addiction. The current study examined how adolescents' and emerging adults' identification with a primary peer group consisting of friends, mediates the relationship between addictive behaviors and psychological distress. Method: The study utilized demographically balanced survey data on 1200 Finnish participants aged 15 to 25 (mean age 21.29, 50% female). Measures were included for psychological distress, excessive drinking, excessive drug use, excessive gambling, excessive Internet use, and peer group identification. Results: All forms of addictive behaviors had a significant direct relationship with higher psychological distress. Excessive drug use, gambling and Internet use were associated with a weaker identification with a peer group, which predicted higher psychological distress. Contrary to the above findings, excessive drinking was linked to stronger peer group identification, mediating psychological distress downwards. Conclusions: These findings support past research and provide a mediation model explanation onto how weaker social relations add to negative well-being consequences in different addictive behaviors, thus underlining the importance of expanding our understanding of social group outcomes among young individuals. Keywords: Social identification, Primary groups, Psychological distress, Addictionhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853218300099 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Iina Savolainen Markus Kaakinen Anu Sirola Atte Oksanen |
spellingShingle |
Iina Savolainen Markus Kaakinen Anu Sirola Atte Oksanen Addictive behaviors and psychological distress among adolescents and emerging adults: A mediating role of peer group identification Addictive Behaviors Reports |
author_facet |
Iina Savolainen Markus Kaakinen Anu Sirola Atte Oksanen |
author_sort |
Iina Savolainen |
title |
Addictive behaviors and psychological distress among adolescents and emerging adults: A mediating role of peer group identification |
title_short |
Addictive behaviors and psychological distress among adolescents and emerging adults: A mediating role of peer group identification |
title_full |
Addictive behaviors and psychological distress among adolescents and emerging adults: A mediating role of peer group identification |
title_fullStr |
Addictive behaviors and psychological distress among adolescents and emerging adults: A mediating role of peer group identification |
title_full_unstemmed |
Addictive behaviors and psychological distress among adolescents and emerging adults: A mediating role of peer group identification |
title_sort |
addictive behaviors and psychological distress among adolescents and emerging adults: a mediating role of peer group identification |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
Addictive Behaviors Reports |
issn |
2352-8532 |
publishDate |
2018-06-01 |
description |
Objective: Research suggests the sense of belonging to primary groups functions as an important social resource for youth well-being, but it can be compromised among those dealing with addiction. The current study examined how adolescents' and emerging adults' identification with a primary peer group consisting of friends, mediates the relationship between addictive behaviors and psychological distress. Method: The study utilized demographically balanced survey data on 1200 Finnish participants aged 15 to 25 (mean age 21.29, 50% female). Measures were included for psychological distress, excessive drinking, excessive drug use, excessive gambling, excessive Internet use, and peer group identification. Results: All forms of addictive behaviors had a significant direct relationship with higher psychological distress. Excessive drug use, gambling and Internet use were associated with a weaker identification with a peer group, which predicted higher psychological distress. Contrary to the above findings, excessive drinking was linked to stronger peer group identification, mediating psychological distress downwards. Conclusions: These findings support past research and provide a mediation model explanation onto how weaker social relations add to negative well-being consequences in different addictive behaviors, thus underlining the importance of expanding our understanding of social group outcomes among young individuals. Keywords: Social identification, Primary groups, Psychological distress, Addiction |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853218300099 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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1716794210038841344 |