How Teen Drinking Is Influenced by Romantic Partner's Pals

Like so many other socially "contagious" traits that have been studied before it — among them, happiness, loneliness, generosity, obesity, disordered eating and quitting smoking — teenagers' drinking behavior may be influenced by their social networks, a new study finds.

But in a twist, the study found that some second-degree relationships were more influential than close friends and romantic partners. Specifically, the authors report, teenagers with a new dating partner were more likely to adopt the drinking habits of their boyfriend's or girlfriend's friends, rather than those of the partners themselves.

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