RESUMO
The aim of this study was to examine the extent to which peer pressure influences the behaviour of adolescents and the implications of such behaviours for health. The study, a cross-sectional one, was conducted at the Clan Carthy and Donald Quarry Comprehensive High Schools with 133 adolescents, and employed a multi-stage sampling process - a combination of random and stratified techniques. Subjects for the sample were selected from one class/stream each from grades 7 - 11, making a total of 5 classes in the study sample. A focus group study, involving 2 groups each of 6 students, was conducted to supplement the quantitative findings. Results showed that male adolescents were more involved in gangs/posses, than females. In relation to drug/substance abuse it was shown that the prevalence for males was much higher than that of females except for the use of inhalants, the majority was encouraged by friends to use ganja and alcohol, males were more likely than females to be influenced or encouraged by their friends to use drugs, and males were 3 times more likely than females to meet with friends to drink alcohol. In relation to sexual behaviour, it was shown that approximately 76 percent of adolescents met with friends to discuss sexual matters 70 percent of the times, and that male adolescents were 11 times more likely than females to be encouraged by friends to have sexual intercourse, 14 times more likely to be encouraged to fondle a girl and 10 times more likely to be encouraged to have more than one lover. In relation to violence it was found that a knife was the most prevalent weapon carried or encouraged to be carried by adolescents; pencils/pens/divider were the most prevalent weapons encouraged to be used in fights at school and males were 3 times more likely than females to fight at school. It was concluded that males were more at risk than females to be influenced by their peers, and it was recommended that Family Life Education programmes in schools be intensified and specifically targetting the male adolescent.(Au)
