Social Network Feedback and Drinking Outcomes among Emerging Adult Risky Drinkers Living in Urban Communities

Background Alcohol use and related problems often increase during emerging adulthood and are influenced by social networks. Investigating alcohol-specific feedback from network members may be useful for understanding social influences and designing interventions to reduce risky drinking among emerging adults. Purpose/Objectives: This study examined whether drinking practices and consequences among emerging adult risky drinkers living in disadvantaged urban communities were influenced by receipt of encouragement, discouragement, or mixed messages about drinking from network members. Methods Risky drinkers ages 21-29 (N = 356; 228 females; mean age = 23.6 years) residing in the community were recruited using digitally implemented Respondent Driven Sampling, a peer-driven chain referral method. A web-based survey assessed drinking practices, negative alcohol-related consequences, and drinking feedback from social network members including friends, spouse/partner, and other family members. Results Negative binomial generalized linear modeling showed that discouragement of drinking by friends was associated with fewer drinking days and negative consequences, whereas discouragement by family members (excluding spouse/partner) was associated with more drinks per drinking day. Mixed feedback (sometimes encouraging, sometimes discouraging drinking) from friends and spouse/partner was associated with more drinking days and negative consequences. Conclusions/Importance: Social network feedback had both risk and protective associations with drinking practices and problems among emerging adults, with discouragement to drink by friends appearing to serve a protective function. The findings suggest the utility of interventions delivered through social networks that amplify the natural protective function of friend discouragement of drinking, in addition to addressing established risks associated with peers.