Music preference and substance use in adolescence: The mediating effect of substance use norms of friends

Abstract

The aim of this longitudinal study was to test whether the substance use norms of friends are an underlying mechanism in the relationship between music preference and substance use by adolescents (alcohol and smoking). To test this data from the Social Network Analysis of Risk behaviour in Early adolescence (SNARE) project was used. The adolescents in the sample (N=1,648) ranged from the age of 11 to 15 years (Mage=13.12). The data was collected through self-reports. Music preference was grouped into seven clusters using a K-means cluster analysis: ‘Unconventional’, ‘Afro-American’, ‘Rock’, ‘Dance’, ‘Pop’, ‘Omnivores’ &‘Anti’s’. The results from the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, with an exception for adolescents in the ‘Omnivores’ and ‘Rock’ clusters, all music clusters showed a higher risk of substance use compared to the ‘Pop’-cluster. The mediating effect was only found to be significant for the music cluster ‘Unconventional’ for both alcohol and smoking. The results from this study highlight the importance for prevention and intervention programmes to target adolescents with preferences for non-mainstream music and adolescents who have friends with high pro-substance use norms.