Influence of peer pressure on delinquent behaviours of in school adolescents in Kwara State

Abstract

Adolescents have needs and problems that arise from organic, psychological and social pressures. These pressures in turn exert  influences on them, which makes them exhibit behaviours that are not in consonance with the societal norms leading to delinquency.  This might be the reasons why in-school adolescents involve themselves in delinquent behaviours such as examination malpractice,  bullying, stealing, truancy, destruction of school properties and even drug use. The problem of delinquent behaviour affects in-school  adolescents irrespective of gender, family type and parents’ literacy level though the degree and magnitude vary from school to school.  Thus, this situation calls for concern in order to avert further challenges the phenomenon could exert on the society. This paper  examined the influence of peer pressure on delinquent behaviour as expressed by in-school adolescents in Kwara State. A researcher  deigned questionnaire entitled “Peer Pressure and Delinquent Behaviour Questionnaire (PPADBQ)” was used to collect necessary data  for the study. The t-test was used to test the three null hypotheses. Two were accepted while one was rejected. The findings of this study  showed that peer pressure did not exert much influence on delinquent behaviour as expressed by in-school adolescents in Kwara State.  Based on the findings, it was recommended amongst others that school authorities should reinforce in her mode of enforcing school  rules and regulations as this will go a long way to reduce students’ misbehaviours in school.