Impact of Peer Pressure in Decision-Making among Adolescents

Adolescence is a period when friends become central to young people's lives, and the wish to fit in can shape how they make decisions. This study examined the impact of peer pressure on the decision-making styles of adolescents and the role of age and gender in this relationship. A cross-sectional quantitative design was used with 100 adolescents aged 13 to 19 years from schools and colleges. Peer pressure was measured with the Peer Pressure Scale and decision-making styles with the General Decision-Making Style inventory, which assesses rational, intuitive, dependent, avoidant and spontaneous styles. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, linear regression and two-way ANOVA. Peer pressure was positively correlated with the dependent (r = .32) and spontaneous (r = .35) styles and was not significantly related to the rational style (r = -.07). Peer pressure explained 10.5% of the variance in the dependent style. Neither age group nor gender significantly influenced peer pressure. The findings are discussed in relation to the dual systems model, and implications are drawn for counselling and life skills programmes that help adolescents make independent, reasoned decisions.