INFLUENCE OF COMMUNITY COUNSELLING AND PARENTAL SUPPORT ON PEER PRESSURE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN ODEDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Young adults, Age groups, Influence, Advice, Parents, SupportAbstract
Adolescence is a critical developmental stage characterized by increased susceptibility to peer influence. The study investigated the influence of community counselling and parental support on peer pressure among adolescents in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State. It examined gender differences in peer pressure, relationship between community counselling, parental support and peer pressure, as well as the joint and relative contributions of community counselling and parental support to peer pressure. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population comprised in-school adolescents in public secondary schools in Odeda LGA. A sample of 300 students (aged 13–19 years) was selected through multistage sampling. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Reliability coefficients were 0.82, 0.79, and 0.86, respectively. Data were analysed using t-test, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, and multiple regression analysis at 0.05 significance level. There was no significant gender difference in the level of peer pressure among adolescents; t (298) =0.538. There was no significant relationship between community counselling and peer pressure r (298) =0.045, nor between parental support and peer pressure r (298) =-0.113. Community counselling and parental support jointly accounted for only 1.2% of the variance in peer pressure (Adj. R² = .012). Parental support made a significant relative contribution (β = –0.131), indicating that strong parental involvement reduces adolescents’ susceptibility to negative peer influence. The study recommends strengthening parental engagement through open communication, supervision and emotional support. Policies promoting community-based counselling and parental education should be incorporated into adolescent development programs to foster resilience and moral responsibility.
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