05. The Role of Peer Networks and Demographic Factors in Adolescent Binge Drinking: A Cross-Sectional Study of Southern California High Schools

Background: While adolescent binge drinking has been on the decline, it remains a public health concern with adverse mental, physical, social, and academic outcomes. Given peers' crucial role in shaping behavior, it is important to examine demographic factors and peer network influence on binge drinking. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 11 high schools in Southern California (N = 2,769). Friendship networks were mapped for each school, and network exposure variables were created based on the proportion of friends who engaged in binge drinking in the past 30 days. Logistic regression models were used to assess the relationships between gender, sexual identity, age, Hispanic ethnicity, friendship nominations, and exposure to friends who were binge drinking in the past 30 days on the likelihood of an individual engaging in binge drinking in the past 30 days. Results: Males were significantly less likely to participate in binge drinking compared to females (AOR = 0.56, p < 0.01), while Hispanic/Latinx students were 2.33 (p < 0.001) times more likely to engage in binge drinking compared to non-Hispanic ones, controlling for social network and demographic covariates. Adolescents identifying as sexual minorities showed a marginally significantly higher likelihood of binge drinking compared to heterosexual peers (AOR = 1.41, p < 0.10). Network exposure to binge drinking among friends was significantly associated with individual binge drinking in the past 30 days. Adolescents with all friends who binge drink were 3.13 (p < 0.05) times more likely to engage in binge drinking in the past 30 days compared to those with no friends who binge drink. Conclusions: These results highlight the importance of considering demographic factors and peer networks in understanding adolescent binge drinking behaviors. Interventions should address peer influence and demographic vulnerabilities, particularly among females, Hispanic/Latinx students, and sexual minorities.

social network analysis

binge drinking

high school students 

Mid-Level

Community

Women in Statistics and Data Science 2025