INFLUENCE OF PEER PRESSURE ON ADOLESCENTS’ SMOKING HABITS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ONDO STATE

ABSTRACT Smoking among adolescents has become a pressing public health issue, often influenced by peer group interactions during formative years. The study investigated the influence of peer pressure on adolescents’ smoking habits among secondary school students in Ondo State, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between peer pressure and smoking behaviour, identify the prevalence of smoking among students, and explore demographic and social factors that may contribute to susceptibility to smoking among adolescents. A descriptive survey design was employed to capture data from a representative sample of 178 secondary school students in Akure, Ondo State. Structured questionnaires were administered to school adolescents. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequency counts, percentages, ANOVA and regression analysis. The findings revealed that peer pressure significantly influenced adolescents’ smoking habits [t(1,176) = 2.36, p < .05]. A significant proportion of students (52.3%) reported that being around peers who smoke was more likely to smoke. The results also indicated that there is a significant relationship between peer pressure and adolescents’ smoking habits [r = .175, p < .05]. Importantly, students exposed to strong anti-smoking messages from family showed reduced susceptibility to peer-induced smoking (X ̅ = 2.89). The study concluded that peer pressure influence is significant in shaping adolescents’ smoking behaviour in Ondo State. The study therefore recommends that schools, parents, and community health educators should intensify efforts to provide adolescents with a healthy environment to resist negative peer influences. Parents and schools should engage adolescents in open discussions with adolescents about the dangers of smoking and other risky behaviours.