The Influence of Misperceptions about Social Norms on Substance Use among School-age Adolescents

Aliaksandr Amialchuk, Gbenga Ajilore and Kevin Egan

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: Individuals often have biased perceptions about their peers' behavior. We use an economic equilibrium analysis to study the role social norms play in substance use decisions. Using a nationally representative dataset, we estimate the effect of misperception about friends' alcohol, smoking, and marijuana use on consumption of these substances by youths in grades 7–12. Overestimation of friend's substance use significantly increases adolescent's own use approximately 1 year later, and the estimated effect is robust across specifications including individual‐level fixed effects regression. The effect size is bigger for boys than for girls. The estimates for those who initially underestimated the norm suggest the possibility of a rebound/boomerang effect.

Keywords: Substance use; Misperception; Social Norms; Adolescents; Add Health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C23 I12 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019-02-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-law, nep-soc and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:95297

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