The Experts below are selected from a list of 38730 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Liesbeth Mercken - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
a longitudinal social network analysis of peer influence peer selection and Smoking Behavior among adolescents in british schools
Health Psychology, 2012Co-Authors: Liesbeth Mercken, Christian Steglich, Philip Sinclair, Jo Holliday, Laurence MooreAbstract:Objective: Similarity in Smoking Behavior among adolescent friends could be caused by selection of friends on the basis of Behavioral similarity, or by influence processes, where Behavior is changed to be similar to that of friends. The main aim of the present study is to disentangle selection and influence processes and study changes over time in these processes using new methods of longitudinal social network analysis. Methods: The sample consists of 1716 adolescents (mean age at baseline = 12.17 years, SD = .38) in 11 British schools participating in the control group of the ASSIST (A Stop Smoking in School Trial) study. The design was longitudinal with three observations at one-year intervals. At each observation, participants were asked to report on their Smoking Behavior and friendship networks. An actor-based model of friendship network and Smoking Behavior coevolution (a statistical model for the simultaneously occurring changes in friendship nominations and Smoking) was analyzed, capable of modeling possible changes occurring between observations, allowing alternative influence and selection mechanisms to be investigated, and avoiding the violation of assumptions of statistical independence of observed data. Results: Adolescent's tendency to select friends based on similar Smoking Behavior was found to be a stronger predictor of Smoking Behavior than friends' influence. The proportion of Smoking Behavior similarity explained by Smoking-based selection of friends increased over time, whereas the proportion explained by influence of friends decreased. Conclusions: Smoking prevention should not solely focus on social influence but also consider selection processes and changes in both processes over time during adolescence.
-
dynamics of adolescent friendship networks and Smoking Behavior
Social Networks, 2010Co-Authors: Erkki Vartiainen, Liesbeth Mercken, Tom A B Snijders, Christian Steglich, H De VriesAbstract:The mutual influence of Smoking Behavior and friendships in adolescence is studied. It is attempted to disentangle influence and selection processes in reciprocal and non-reciprocal friendships. An actorbased model is described for the co-evolution of friendship networks and Smoking Behavior. This model considers alternative selection and influence mechanisms, and models continuous-time changes in network and Behavior. The data consists of a longitudinal sample of 1326 Finnish adolescents in 11 high schools. Findings suggest that selection as well as influence processes play an important role in adolescent Smoking Behavior. Selection had a relatively stronger role than influence, in particular when selecting non-reciprocal friends. The strength of both influence and selection processes decreased over time. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
-
dynamics of adolescent friendship networks and Smoking Behavior social network analyses in six european countries
Social Science & Medicine, 2009Co-Authors: Hein De Vries, Liesbeth Mercken, Tom A B Snijders, Christian SteglichAbstract:The co-evolution of adolescents' friendship networks and their Smoking Behavior is examined in a large sample across six European countries. Selection and influence processes are disentangled using new methods of social network analysis that enable alternative selection mechanisms to be controlled for. The sample consisted of 7704 adolescents participating in the control group of the ESFA (European Smoking prevention Framework Approach) study. The design was longitudinal with four observations. The main measurements were friendship ties, adolescents Smoking Behavior, parental Smoking Behavior, and sibling Smoking Behavior. Results indicated that in each country adolescents preferred selecting friends based on similar Smoking Behavior. Support for the influence of friends was found in only two countries. A similarity in Smoking Behavior between friends was explained more strongly by Smoking-based selection processes than by the influence of friends in each of the six countries. Prevention programs need to address aspects that drive peer selection, and reinforce non-Smoking attitudes in adolescents.
-
social influence and selection effects in the context of Smoking Behavior changes during early and mid adolescence
Health Psychology, 2009Co-Authors: Liesbeth Mercken, Math J J M Candel, Paul C Willems, Hein De VriesAbstract:OBJECTIVE This article examined the contribution of selection and influence processes in Smoking Behavior similarity among friends, and changes in these processes during early and mid adolescence. DESIGN Data from 1886 Dutch high school students in the control group of the European Smoking prevention Framework Approach (ESFA) study were used. Changes in selection and influence were examined during three successive waves using structural equation modeling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Smoking Behavior of adolescents, best friends, parents, and siblings. RESULTS Most support was found for selection of reciprocal (p(wave1,2,3) 0.05) and siblings (p(wave1,2) < 0.01; p(wave3) = 0.16), but influence diminished over time. CONCLUSION Smoking-based selection processes decreased over time while the influence of friends increased. Smoking prevention programs should focus on the structure of peer environments besides promoting social influence skills. During early adolescence parents and siblings should be targeted, while during mid adolescence, the focus should shift toward the adolescents and their dynamic peer environment.
Hein De Vries - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
longitudinal study of relations between school achievement and Smoking Behavior among secondary school students in finland results of the esfa study
Substance Use & Misuse, 2011Co-Authors: Marjaana Pennanen, Ari Haukkala, Hein De Vries, Erkki VartiainenAbstract:The aim of this study was to explore a longitudinal bi-directional relationship between school achievement and Smoking Behavior. The sample consists of 2,188 Finnish students in grades 7–9. Data were collected at three separate occasions between the years 1998 and 2000. Three hypothesized conceptual models were developed and tested using path analyses by structural equation modeling (SEM). Students that performed poorly at school smoked weekly six times more than those who achieved the highest school grade point averages at the age of 15. Using SEM, the findings suggest that not only does deterioration of school achievement contribute to progression in Smoking uptake continuum but also vice versa progression in Smoking uptake continuum to deterioration of school achievement over time (CFI = .997). There were no moderating effects of gender or treatment condition in the proposed models. Both deterioration of school achievement and progression in Smoking uptake continuum predicted changes in other Behavior ...
-
dynamics of adolescent friendship networks and Smoking Behavior social network analyses in six european countries
Social Science & Medicine, 2009Co-Authors: Hein De Vries, Liesbeth Mercken, Tom A B Snijders, Christian SteglichAbstract:The co-evolution of adolescents' friendship networks and their Smoking Behavior is examined in a large sample across six European countries. Selection and influence processes are disentangled using new methods of social network analysis that enable alternative selection mechanisms to be controlled for. The sample consisted of 7704 adolescents participating in the control group of the ESFA (European Smoking prevention Framework Approach) study. The design was longitudinal with four observations. The main measurements were friendship ties, adolescents Smoking Behavior, parental Smoking Behavior, and sibling Smoking Behavior. Results indicated that in each country adolescents preferred selecting friends based on similar Smoking Behavior. Support for the influence of friends was found in only two countries. A similarity in Smoking Behavior between friends was explained more strongly by Smoking-based selection processes than by the influence of friends in each of the six countries. Prevention programs need to address aspects that drive peer selection, and reinforce non-Smoking attitudes in adolescents.
-
social influence and selection effects in the context of Smoking Behavior changes during early and mid adolescence
Health Psychology, 2009Co-Authors: Liesbeth Mercken, Math J J M Candel, Paul C Willems, Hein De VriesAbstract:OBJECTIVE This article examined the contribution of selection and influence processes in Smoking Behavior similarity among friends, and changes in these processes during early and mid adolescence. DESIGN Data from 1886 Dutch high school students in the control group of the European Smoking prevention Framework Approach (ESFA) study were used. Changes in selection and influence were examined during three successive waves using structural equation modeling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Smoking Behavior of adolescents, best friends, parents, and siblings. RESULTS Most support was found for selection of reciprocal (p(wave1,2,3) 0.05) and siblings (p(wave1,2) < 0.01; p(wave3) = 0.16), but influence diminished over time. CONCLUSION Smoking-based selection processes decreased over time while the influence of friends increased. Smoking prevention programs should focus on the structure of peer environments besides promoting social influence skills. During early adolescence parents and siblings should be targeted, while during mid adolescence, the focus should shift toward the adolescents and their dynamic peer environment.
Dalton Conley - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
The Long-Term Consequences of Vietnam-Era Conscription and Genotype on Smoking Behavior and Health
Behavior Genetics, 2016Co-Authors: Lauren Schmitz, Dalton ConleyAbstract:Research is needed to understand the extent to which environmental factors moderate links between genetic risk and the development of Smoking Behaviors. The Vietnam-era draft lottery offers a unique opportunity to investigate whether genetic susceptibility to Smoking is influenced by risky environments in young adulthood. Access to free or reduced-price cigarettes coupled with the stress of military life meant conscripts were exposed to a large, exogenous shock to Smoking Behavior at a young age. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we interact a genetic risk score for Smoking initiation with instrumented veteran status in an instrumental variables (IV) framework to test for genetic moderation (i.e. heterogeneous treatment effects) of veteran status on Smoking Behavior and Smoking-related morbidities. We find evidence that veterans with a high genetic predisposition for Smoking were more likely to have been smokers, smoke heavily, and are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer or hypertension at older ages. Smoking Behavior was significantly attenuated for high-risk veterans who attended college after the war, indicating post-service schooling gains from veterans’ use of the GI Bill may have reduced tobacco consumption in adulthood.
-
the long term consequences of vietnam era conscription and genotype on Smoking Behavior and health
Social Science Research Network, 2015Co-Authors: Lauren Schmitz, Dalton ConleyAbstract:Research is needed to understand the extent to which environmental factors mediate links between genetic risk and the development of Smoking Behaviors. The Vietnam-era draft lottery offers a unique opportunity to investigate whether genetic susceptibility to Smoking is influenced by risky environments in young adulthood. Access to free or reduced-price cigarettes coupled with the stress of military life meant conscripts were exposed to a large, exogenous shock to Smoking Behavior at a young age. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we interact a genetic risk score for Smoking initiation with instrumented veteran status in an instrumental variables (IV) framework to test for genetic moderation (i.e. heterogeneous treatment effects) of veteran status on Smoking Behavior and Smoking-related morbidities. We find evidence that veterans with a high genetic predisposition for Smoking were more likely to become regular smokers, smoke heavily, and are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer or hypertension at older ages. Smoking Behavior was significantly attenuated for high-risk veterans who attended college after the war, indicating post-service schooling gains from veterans’ use of the GI Bill may have reduced tobacco consumption in adulthood.Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.
Thomas Siedler - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
one last puff public Smoking bans and Smoking Behavior
Journal of Health Economics, 2011Co-Authors: Silke Anger, Michael Kvasnicka, Thomas SiedlerAbstract:This paper investigates the short-term effects of public Smoking bans on individual Smoking Behavior. In 2007 and 2008, state-level Smoking bans were gradually introduced in all of Germany's federal states. We exploit this variation to identify the effect that smoke-free policies had on individuals' Smoking propensity and Smoking intensity. Using rich longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study, our difference-in-differences estimates show that the introduction of smoke-free legislation in Germany did not change average Smoking Behavior within the population. However, our estimates point to important heterogeneous effects. Individuals who go out more often to bars and restaurants did adjust their Smoking Behavior. Following the ban, they became less likely to smoke and also smoked less.
-
one last puff public Smoking bans and Smoking Behavior
Research Papers in Economics, 2010Co-Authors: Silke Anger, Michael Kvasnicka, Thomas SiedlerAbstract:This paper investigates the short-term effects of public Smoking bans on individual Smoking Behavior. In 2007 and 2008, state-level Smoking bans were gradually introduced in all of Germany's sixteen federal states. We exploit this variation in the timing of state bans to identify the effect that smoke-free policies had on individuals' Smoking propensity and Smoking intensity. Using rich longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study, our difference-in-differences estimates show that the introduction of smoke-free legislation in Germany did not change average Smoking Behavior within the population. However, our estimates also point to important heterogeneous effects. Groups that go out more often, and hence are more exposed to the constraints of public Smoking bans in everyday life, did adjust their Smoking Behavior. Specifically, we find that young, unmarried individuals, men, and those living in urban areas are groups that are both less likely to smoke and smoke less intensively following the introduction of public Smoking bans. Furthermore, effects on individual Smoking habits proved stronger in states that had more strict Smoking bans. Public Smoking bans, therefore, have important health benefits over and above the reduction in exposure of non-smokers to second-hand smoke that is their immediate and prime objective.
Tom A B Snijders - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
dynamics of adolescent friendship networks and Smoking Behavior
Social Networks, 2010Co-Authors: Erkki Vartiainen, Liesbeth Mercken, Tom A B Snijders, Christian Steglich, H De VriesAbstract:The mutual influence of Smoking Behavior and friendships in adolescence is studied. It is attempted to disentangle influence and selection processes in reciprocal and non-reciprocal friendships. An actorbased model is described for the co-evolution of friendship networks and Smoking Behavior. This model considers alternative selection and influence mechanisms, and models continuous-time changes in network and Behavior. The data consists of a longitudinal sample of 1326 Finnish adolescents in 11 high schools. Findings suggest that selection as well as influence processes play an important role in adolescent Smoking Behavior. Selection had a relatively stronger role than influence, in particular when selecting non-reciprocal friends. The strength of both influence and selection processes decreased over time. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
-
dynamics of adolescent friendship networks and Smoking Behavior social network analyses in six european countries
Social Science & Medicine, 2009Co-Authors: Hein De Vries, Liesbeth Mercken, Tom A B Snijders, Christian SteglichAbstract:The co-evolution of adolescents' friendship networks and their Smoking Behavior is examined in a large sample across six European countries. Selection and influence processes are disentangled using new methods of social network analysis that enable alternative selection mechanisms to be controlled for. The sample consisted of 7704 adolescents participating in the control group of the ESFA (European Smoking prevention Framework Approach) study. The design was longitudinal with four observations. The main measurements were friendship ties, adolescents Smoking Behavior, parental Smoking Behavior, and sibling Smoking Behavior. Results indicated that in each country adolescents preferred selecting friends based on similar Smoking Behavior. Support for the influence of friends was found in only two countries. A similarity in Smoking Behavior between friends was explained more strongly by Smoking-based selection processes than by the influence of friends in each of the six countries. Prevention programs need to address aspects that drive peer selection, and reinforce non-Smoking attitudes in adolescents.
