Peer Pressure and its Psychological Effects on Risk-Taking and Decision-Making Behavior in Teenagers

Zanib  Jabbar; Sameena Humayun  Khan; Muhammad Rizwan  Sabir

doi:10.47067/ramss.v8i4.603

Authors

Zanib Jabbar University of Southeren Punjab, Multan, Pakistan
Sameena Humayun Khan Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, The University of Haripur, Pakistan
Muhammad Rizwan Sabir Deputy Director, National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, Government of Pakistan, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47067/ramss.v8i4.603

Keywords:

Peer Pressure, Adolescents, Risk-Taking Behavior, Decision-Making, Psychological Effects, Cross-Sectional Study, Correlation, ANOVA

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the impact of peer pressure on risk-taking and decision-making behavior among teenagers. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed, and data were collected from a sample of 225 adolescents aged 13–19 years using a structured Likert-scale questionnaire. Stratified random sampling was applied to ensure representation across age groups and genders. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and one-way ANOVA to investigate relationships and predictive effects among variables. The findings showed that the peer pressure and risk-taking behavior showed moderate positive correlation (r = 0.46, p = 0.01), thus showing that the higher the influence of the peer, the higher the engagement on risky behaviors. The ANOVA also showed that risk-taking and decision-making varied significantly at various level of peer pressure (F(2, 222) = 14.67, p < 0.01) which proved that peer pressure is a major predictor of adolescent behavioral outcomes. These results show how peer pressure affects the psychological and behavioral habits of teenagers and indicate that it is necessary to have interventions aimed at developing a positive attitude towards peers and improving decision-making abilities. The research has the potential to advance the understanding of the social influence on the behavior of adolescents and gives educators, parents, and policy-makers valuable insights.

Author Biography

Zanib Jabbar, University of Southeren Punjab, Multan, Pakistan

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