Social interaction, identity formation and substance use in the first-year transition to college

Transitioning into college can be an intimidating or overwhelming process for incoming students, which may impact many dimensions of their health, especially social and mental health. Struggles with personal, academic, social, and moral pressures during the first year of college results in an increase of stress that may lead to negative health behaviors such as substance use (Baghurst & Kelley, 2013). As part of the healthy development of self within adolescence, family and peers can provide protective elements for students as they form identities (Viner, Ozer, Denny et al., 2012; Currie, Zanotti, Morgan et al., 2012). The role of affective and interactive commitment within a student’s social network may aid in the development and maintenance of identity salience (Serpe & Stryker, 1982). However, the ubiquitous nature of mobile media devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops, provide the ability for connections to be made electronically with previous face-to-face networks. The increased use of technology use, specifically mobile media devices used for electronic communication, may impact the connections students develop and maintain in their social networks, which could adversely affect their social and mental health, including substance abuse.
Through the social identity theory, this longitudinal survey-based dissertation study explored the development and maintenance of incoming college students’ identity and the roles that social interaction via mobile media communication and commitment have in the uptake and use of illegal substances such as alcohol and marijuana. Results found group differences in alcohol use, but no differences for gender or race. Further, social interaction patterns via electronic communication and commitment within identities were found to influence substance use behavior, but in a minor way. Furthermore, identity salience was not found to mediate the relationship between social interaction patterns and substance use. Valuable research design insights to guide future studies are included.