Peer Group Pressure as a Determinant of Adolescent Social Adjustment in Nigerian Schools

Abstract

This study investigated peer group pressure as a determinant of adolescents' social adjustment in Nigerian schools, with a focus on the Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State. Two null hypotheses were tested using a random sample of one hundred and twenty adolescents from four secondary schools in the Ikeja Local Government Area. The instrument was a self-designed questionnaire. The collected data were analysed using an independent t-test and a Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The results of the analysis showed that peer group pressure among adolescents is related to their social adjustment and that the gender of the adolescents affects their social adjustment as well. Based on these findings, the following recommendations are made: parents should serve as role models for their children to emulate; parents should be watchful of the types of friends kept by their adolescent children; and parent-child relationship should be cordial enough to permit adolescents in discussing their problems with them. In addition, the management of adolescents (secondary school students) should be the joint responsibility of parents, guidance counsellors, school administrators and society at large.

Kajian ini menyelidik tentang tekanan kumpulan rakan sebaya sebagai penentu dalam penyesuaian sosial dalam kalangan remaja sekolah di Nigeria dengan memberi fokus kepada Kawasan Kerajaan Tempatan Ikeja di Negeri Lagos. Dua hipotesis Nul diuji menggunakan sampel rawak seramai 120 orang remaja dari empat buah sekolah menengah di Kawasan Kerajaan Tempatan Ikeja. Instrumen yang diguna pakai ialah soal selidik yang direka sendiri. Data dianalisis menggunakan independent t- test dan Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan tekanan kumpulan rakan sebaya dalam kalangan remaja mempengaruhi penyesuaian sosial mereka. Berdasarkan dapatan kajian beberapa cadangan dikemukakan : ibu bapa perlu menjadi model peranan kepada anak untuk dicontohi; ibu bapa perlu mengawasi jenis kawan kepada anak remaja mereka; perhubungan ibu bapa perlu mesra supaya anak remaja dapat membincang masalah dengan mereka. Tambahan lagi, pengawasan anak remaja seharusnya menjadi tanggungjawab bersama oleh ibu bapa, kaunselor, pentadbir dan masyarakat keseluruhannya.