Study on Challenges of Peer Influence Among Adolescents

Abstract

This paper seeks to research the difficulties facing students in interaction with peers, especially how peer pressure impacts their conduct, learning achievement and their psychological well-being. Employing a mixed-methods approach with structured questionnaires and semi structured interviews, the study assesses the level of peer influence on vulnerability to negatives such as risk-taking behaviors, poor academic performance, and increased rates of emotional disturbances. The study embraced 100 adolescents of between 13 and 18 years and employed stratified random sampling on school going youths. According to the researchers the results show that peer pressure plays a huge role in influencing the adolescents' decision-making process which most of the time puts them at risk. Interventions on what should be done involve advice to adolescent social work on how to empower them not to be influenced negatively by peers.