Peer Pressure, Substance Abuse and Academic Achievement among Secondary Students of Kampala District.
Abstract
The study sought to find the relationship between peer pressure, substance abuse and academic achievement among secondary students of Kampala District. The study intended to achieve the following objectives: to examine the relationship between peer pressure and substance abuse, to examine the relationship between substance abuse and academic achievement and to examine the relationship between peer pressure and academic achievement. A correlational design was used to establish the relationship between the three variables. The study used a total sample of 100 respondents who were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires. The researcher analyzed using statistical package for social scientist version 23 (SPSS). Percentages and Pearson correlation coefficient (r) were used to test the hypotheses. Results indicated that peer pressure and substance abuse are significant related (r=.369, p<0.01), substance abuse and academic achievement a non-significant related (r= -.087, p>0.05), and also peer pressure and academic performance a non-significant related (r=.139, p>0.05). Although the levels of all variables were observed, some students are being influenced by their peers which enhances poor academic achievement at school. I recommend the ministry of education to draft policies against peer pressure and substance abuse to ensure well being of students to perform well than solely focusing on obtaining big produces and profits.