The Association between Marijuana Consumption in Adolescents and Social Acceptance based on Fitting in with Peer Groups

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Yuyang Zhang
Welcome! Yuyang is a freshman at Wesleyan University, aiming to major in Psychology with minors in Data Analysis and Economics. Originally from Shenzhen, China, he grew up in Irvine, California. After completing his studies at Wesleyan, Yuyang aspires to build a career in media and marketing. Beyond his academic pursuits, he is passionate about both listening to and playing music, snowboarding, playing ice hockey, and exploring new experiences.

Abstract: Adolescence represents an important developmental stage characterized by significant social, psychological, and physiological transformations, with identity formation playing a central role. This process is deeply influenced by interactions within peer and social environments. Recent studies, such as those by Hathaway et al. (2018), highlight the normalization of marijuana use within certain peer groups, which tends to increase consumption among adolescents as they seek acceptance and integration. Additionally, Oshi et al. (2020) have documented a positive correlation between an adolescent’s sense of belonging at school and their likelihood to use cannabis, suggesting that school environment is a critical factor in drug use behaviors. Despite these insights, there remains a notable research gap in understanding how external influences like peer pressure and the need for acceptance interact to drive marijuana use among teenagers. This study investigates these dynamics to better tailor prevention and intervention strategies that address the underlying social mechanisms influencing adolescent marijuana use.

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