Influence of Self-Confidence and Assertiveness Skills on Secondary School Adolescents’ Resistance to Peer Pressure in Delta State

This study investigated the impact of self-confidence and assertiveness skills on secondary school adolescents' ability to resist peer pressure. Using a correlational survey research design, the population consisted of 29,500 secondary school adolescents across senior secondary schools in Delta State, with a sample of 300 students selected through stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Two research questions and hypotheses were formulated and tested at a 0.05 level of significance. Data was collected via a self-designed instrument, the Self-Confidence, Assertiveness Skills, and Adolescents Peer Pressure Questionnaire (SCASAPPQ), which was validated and found to have adequate reliability through the principal component analysis method of confirmatory factor analysis. Research questions were answered using the Pearson productmoment correlation Coefficient, and hypotheses were tested through linear regression analysis at the 0.05 significance level. The results showed that adolescents with higher levels of selfconfidence and assertiveness skills were more capable of resisting peer pressure, particularly in avoiding harmful behaviours such as drug use, early sexual activities, and other risky behaviours influenced by peers. The study unveiled that self-confidence and assertiveness skills significantly impact adolescents' resistance to peer pressure. The research recommended that educators, parents, and caregivers implement programs designed to foster self-confidence and assertiveness in adolescents. Such programs could help reduce the likelihood of adolescents engaging in destructive behaviours, such as drug use, cultism, and cybercrime, which are often perpetuated through peer influence. These findings highlight the importance of building self-confidence and assertiveness in helping adolescents navigate social pressures effectively.