Abstract
In adolescent best friendship dyads, we examined: (a) similarity in substance use and decision-making; (b) associations between participants' decision-making and their own and best friend's substance use, (c) the influence of relative popularity within the dyad on these associations. Participants (n = 172; 12-18 years) named their best friend, completed popularity ratings, and a substance use questionnaire. Computer tasks were administered to assess risk-taking and immediate reward preferences. Reciprocated same-sex best friendship dyads (n = 49) were distinguished on their popularity, and we controlled for age differences between dyads in the analyses. Best friends were similar in substance use and risk-taking preferences. More popular friends' risk-taking preferences were positively associated with alcohol use of less popular friends. These findings underscore best friendship similarity in risky behaviors, and the influence of popular friends.
