Stress, Peer Pressure and Substance Abuse among Adolescents at Kamwokya Parish, Kampala Metropolitan Area

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between Drug Abuse, Peer Pressure and Substance Abuse among adolescents. A correlation research design using quantitative approach was used and the study used primary data which was obtained by administering questionnaires to 100 adolescents within Kamwokya Parish, Kampala Metropolitan Area. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS software version 26.0. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study found out that stress, peer pressure and substance abuse are significantly inter-related. This study also found out that an increase in stress leads to an increase in substance abuse through the mediating variable of peer pressure among adolescents. I recommend that parents of adolescents should be provided with basic skills and knowledge on how to guide their children on the type of friends they choose as this may reduce the substance abuse and stress related issues which comes as the results from pressure from their peer. I suggest that more research should be conducted on stress, peer pressure and substance abuse using more measurable means and more scientific methods. This might help to create a wider dimension of results and make results more generalizable.