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Strowger M, Braitman AL. Using social network methodology to examine the effects of exposure to alcohol-related social media content on alcohol use: A critical review. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2023; 31:280-293. [PMID: 35357872 PMCID: PMC10107381 DOI: 10.1037/pha0000561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Peer social influence is a robust predictor of problematic drinking among young adults and adolescents; it is typically assessed by collecting nonspecific social network information (i.e., behaviors of peers globally) or specific social network information (i.e., behaviors of named friends). Socialization happens both in-person and online through social media. Exposure to alcohol-related social media content is consistently related to alcohol consumption in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies alike. Previous research has often not focused on who specifically is sharing the alcohol-related social media content with most examining effects of exposure to content posted by nonspecific network members (e.g., peers, friends) and individual alcohol consumption. The purpose of the current critical review is to describe how exposure to alcohol-related social media content is commonly measured and how including a specific social network assessment may explain more variance in alcohol use. The review found inconsistencies in the reference groups used when assessing frequency of exposure and found that specific modalities of content exposure were often not assessed. Of the 30 published studies reviewed, 15 used cross-sectional designs, which is regrettable considering that the composition of adolescent and young adult peer groups have been found to change over time possibly affecting the content viewed. Understanding factors which affect the relationship between exposure to alcohol-related social media content and individual alcohol use has implications for tailoring drinking interventions to address the unique social influence of social media content. Gaps in the literature are summarized and future directions for research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abby L. Braitman
- Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University
- Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology
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Acuff SF, MacKillop J, Murphy JG. Integrating Behavioral Economic and Social Network Influences in Understanding Alcohol Misuse in a Diverse Sample of Emerging Adults. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:1444-1455. [PMID: 32568458 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Behavioral economic alcohol demand is a measure of motivation to consume alcohol and a robust risk factor for alcohol misuse. Social networks that are dense with alcohol are also associated with heavy drinking, but the intersection of these risk factors has not been investigated to date. This study examined these interrelationships with structural equation modeling using cross-sectional data from a diverse community sample of heavy-drinking emerging adults (N = 602). METHODS Latent variables for alcohol social network, alcohol demand, and alcohol misuse were constructed. Next, relations between the latent variables were examined, including the indirect effect of alcohol demand in the relation between alcohol social network and alcohol misuse. An alternative modeling testing the indirect effect of alcohol social network on the relation between alcohol demand and misuse was also tested. RESULTS When alone in the model, social network alcohol density significantly predicted alcohol misuse. When alcohol demand was included in the model, social network alcohol density predicted alcohol demand, alcohol demand predicted alcohol misuse, and an indirect effect on alcohol misuse through alcohol demand was present. In the alternative model, an indirect effect was not present between alcohol demand and alcohol misuse by social network alcohol density. Exploratory analyses revealed significant sex, race, and college status differences. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the influence of social network alcohol density on alcohol misuse may be, in part, through variance accounted for by alcohol reinforcing value. Longitudinal testing of this mechanistic pathway is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel F Acuff
- From the, Department of Psychology, (SFA, JGM), University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - James MacKillop
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, (JM), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University/St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - James G Murphy
- From the, Department of Psychology, (SFA, JGM), University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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Levitt EE, Oshri A, Clifton A, Stout R, Costello MJ, VanDellen M, Kelly JF, MacKillop J. Psychometric Validation of the Brief Alcohol Social Density Assessment in an Adult Community Sample. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 44:212-218. [PMID: 31828804 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals' social networks exert a strong influence on alcohol use, but valid assessment of network drinking behavior is typically lengthy and high in participant burden. The aim of this study was to validate the Brief Alcohol Social Density Assessment (BASDA), an efficient measure of perceived alcohol use within a person's social network, in a sample of adult drinkers from the general community. Specifically, the convergent, criterion-related, incremental validity and internal validity were investigated by examining the BASDA in relation to other established measures of drinking motives, weekly drinking level, and severity of involvement. METHODS Participants were 903 (56% female) adults who reported drinking in the last year and who completed the BASDA, the Drinking Motives Questionnaire, the Daily Drinking Questionnaire, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). RESULTS Significant positive correlations were found between the BASDA and drinking motives, drinking quantity, and the AUDIT (rs = 0.21 to 0.51, ps < 0.001), providing support for convergent validity. There was a significantly higher BASDA score for those scoring at or above an AUDIT cutoff for hazardous drinking (p < 0.001), providing support for criterion-related validity. Finally, beyond motives and covariates, the BASDA was significantly associated with total AUDIT score (ΔR2 = 0.09, p < 0.001), indicating its additive contribution and providing support for incremental validity. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed excellent fit, and all items significantly loaded onto a single factor (p < 0.0001), providing evidence of internal validity. The resulting alcohol social density latent variable was significantly and robustly associated with drinks per week and AUDIT total score. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide further support for the BASDA as a valid and efficient measure of social network alcohol density for understanding social influences on alcohol misuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E Levitt
- From the, Peter Boris Centre for Addiction Research, (EEL, JM), St Joseph's Health Care, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Homewood Research Institute, (EEL, MJC, JM), Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Assaf Oshri
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, (AO), University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Allan Clifton
- Department of Psychological Science, (AC), Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York
| | - Robert Stout
- Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, (RS), Providence, Rhode Island
| | | | | | - John F Kelly
- Recovery Research Institute, (JFK), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, (JFK), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - James MacKillop
- From the, Peter Boris Centre for Addiction Research, (EEL, JM), St Joseph's Health Care, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Homewood Research Institute, (EEL, MJC, JM), Guelph, ON, Canada
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