Regarding peer substance use, the measure used here might reflect the broader construct of peer deviant behavior, which could also impact on how a low LR affects a subject's expectation of alcohol's effects, their drinking patterns, and coping style. In Figure 3, the PEER variable added significantly to the model overall, with evidence that this peer substance use measure also partially mediated the relationship between a low LR and heavier drinking and alcohol problems. However, it is not possible in this cross-sectional model to determine if higher peer substance use influenced how much a person drank, or if heavier drinkers gravitated toward peers who used substances. The zero order correlation between LR and the PEER measure and the path coefficients observed in the model were both modest.
