Peer pressure and adolescents’ problem behavior

Aim: This study’s major goals are to evaluate the relationship between peer influence and adolescents’ problem behavior. According to the research hypothesis peer influence on adolescents’ problem behavior is mediated by the moral disengagement that refers to tolerant attitude toward deviant behavior.Method: This study has a correlational design. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect data. 150 adolescents aged from 14 to 18 participated in the research. The first group includes 60 adolescents who are in conflict with the law and the second group includes 90 participants who do not have the same experience.Findings: The research results show that peers’ problem behavioural model is the most important predictor of adolescents’ problem behavior. Correlational and regression analyses also show that peer control of problem behavior negatively correlates with adolescents’ problem behavior. Mediation analysis revealed that moral disengagement is a statistically significant mediator variable in the relationship between peer control and problem behaviour. The intensity of the relationship between peer control and problem behavior decreases if adolescents’ tolerance toward deviant behavior increases. The research results indicate the effectiveness of a multi-system approach to preventing adolescents’ problem behavior. The multi-system approach is focused not only on adolescents’ characteristics but also considers the importance of social factors, particularly peers and family, in the process of preventing deviant behaviour.Implications/Novel Contribution: The theoretical value and novelty of the research are fully justified by the \ proposed multi-factor theoretical model, which combines the relevant individual and environmental characteristics linked to problem behaviour in adolescence.