Title: Self-Confidence On Secondary School Adolescents' Resistance To Negative Peer Pressure In Delta State.
Authors: Horsfall A. I. & Enakpoya E.E
Volume: 9
Issue: 10
Pages: 533-539
Publication Date: 2025/10/28
Abstract:
This study investigated the relationship between self-confidence and secondary school adolescents' resistance to peer pressure in Delta Central Senatorial District, Delta State, Nigeria. A correlational research design examined the links between self-confidence and students' ability to resist peer pressure. Two research questions and hypotheses guided the study. The population comprised 45,318 senior secondary school students, with a sample of 380 selected through multi-stage sampling involving stratified and simple random techniques across educational zones. Data were collected using a 29-item self-designed questionnaire titled Self-confidence and Adolescents' Resistance to Peer Pressure Questionnaire (SCARPPQ). The instrument's validity was established through expert review and factor analysis, which confirmed strong component values and factor loadings. Reliability testing using Cronbach's Alpha produced coefficients of 0.77 for self-confidence and 0.85 for resistance to peer pressure, with an overall index of 0.85. Data analysis employed Pearson Product-Moment Correlation to answer research questions and linear and multiple regression analyses to test hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed significant relationships between self-confidence and adolescents' resistance to peer pressure. Additionally, sex significantly moderated these relationships, while location showed no significant effect. The study concludes that self-confidence is a critical trait in enhancing adolescents' ability to withstand negative peer influence. It recommends that schools, parents, and counsellors promote these qualities through targeted life skills programmes and gender-sensitive interventions. This research contributes empirical evidence on the importance of self-confidence and assertiveness in resisting peer pressure within Nigerian secondary schools. Future studies should consider other psychological factors, qualitative approaches, and the influence of cultural and family backgrounds on adolescent behaviour.