Peer Group Dimensions as Predictors of Substance Abuse among Secondary School Students in Delta Central Senatorial District

Individuals are influenced by many factors; among these, peer-group influence is particularly relevant to secondary school students. Findings revealed significant positive relationships between peer-neighbour influence, age-grade peer influence, school-mate influence and substance abuse among secondary school students in Delta Central Senatorial District. However, no significant relationship was found between religious peer-group influence and substance abuse. Thus, the study examined the relationship between peer-group dimensions and substance abuse among secondary school students in Delta Central Senatorial District, Delta State. Four research questions and four hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a correlational research design. The population comprised 10,262 Senior Secondary II students in Delta Central Senatorial District. A sample of 370 students was selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected using a self-constructed instrument. The instrument was validated through expert judgement and factor analysis, while Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients of 0.69, 0.86, 0.84, 0.68 and 0.90 were obtained for the respective subscales. Pearson’s product–moment correlation, the coefficient of determination and regression analyses were used for data analysis at the 0.05 level of significance. The study therefore recommended that schools, parents, community leaders and relevant stakeholders strengthen positive peer education programmes, promote responsible social media use and implement gender-sensitive substance abuse prevention interventions.