School-Level Application of a Social Bonding Model to Adolescent Risk-Taking Behavior

This study tested a model that includes individual & environmental indicators of bonding to predict cigarette smoking, drinking, drug use, & sexual activity among ninth grade students. Survey data representing students in 7 western American states are reported. Twelfth grade students’ bonding & other demographic variables aggregated by school served as environmental indicators of bonding opportunities to predict ninth grade students’ bonding & risk-taking behaviour. Path analyses indicate the school environment has a direct influence on ninth grade students’ bonding &, in turn, on the likelihood they will engage in risky behaviour. Implications of these findings for future research directions & intervention designs are discussed. (32 refs.)