1.  â€œA study to assess the peer influence and behaviour among the adolescents of Pre University Colleges of Udupi taluk.” 

2.      Type of Study: Descriptive study

3.    Aims & objectives:

Aim:

                      The purpose of the study is to assess peer influence, which can lead to normal, abnormal behaviour among adolescents. The data from the study can be used to develop strategies to manage negative peer influence and maladaptive behavioural patterns.

Objectives:

The objectives of the study are:

·         To assess the peer influence among adolescents using Peer influence scale.

·         To find the behavior of adolescents using Strengths and Difficulty Questionnaire.

·         To find out the association between peer influence and behavior among adolescents using chi-square.

4. Justification for study:

Adolescence is a stage between puberty and adulthood. In other words it’s called the teenage years, and this is the stage when most of the influences and decisions are taken by peers, which might lead to peer influence. Peer influence has turned out to be one of the most area of importance, as this influence has affected mostly children especially the school going adolescents in the area of dietary pattern, sleep pattern, physical exercises, personal appearance and late night activities. 10 percent of teenagers said that they had not been influenced by peer pressure. 28 percent of teenagers agreed that giving in to peer pressure improved their social standing and nearly half of those surveyed admitted to picking on someone only after a friend picked on that person. Which shows that there has been some influence which may be mild, moderate and severe.

5. Departments involved: Pre University College students.

6. Study period: 1 year

7. Materials and methods:     

Research approach: Quantitative approach

Research design: Descriptive survey design

a)      Inclusion and exclusion criteria :

·         Inclusion criteria:

- Adolescents who are in the age group 16-18 years of age.

- Those adolescents who know English language.

- Those adolescents who are willing to take part in the study.

·         Exclusion criteria:

-  Those who are having any kinds of diagnosed psychiatric or behavioural disorders

8. Detailed description of procedure / processes:

After obtaining the formal administrative permission from the school authorities and the ethical committee, schools are randomly selected by lottery method from Udupi Taluk. As per the convenience of school, time will be fixed in prior for the data collection. Students of Pre University colleges are proportionately selected. All those who will be willing to take part in the study and give the assent will be included. Informed assent and participant information sheet will be given to them prior to the data collection. Informed consent will be obtained from the parents in prior by sending the form to parents through children through the school authorities. Data will be collected from the children.

Data will be collected by the principal investigator by using Tool 1 (Demographic proforma) and Tool 2 (Peer Influence Scale) and Tool 3 (Strengths and difficulties questionnaire).

9. Outcome measures: The Principal Investigator will be able to find out the influence and behaviour among adolescents of Pre University Colleges.

10. Potential risks and benefits : There is no potential risk.

11. Ethical considerations and methods to address issues :   

·       Formal administrative permission from the Dean, Manipal College of Nursing, MU , Manipal
  Approval from the Institutional Research Committee of Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal
  Approval from the Institutional Ethical Committee of Kasturba Hospital will be obtained
  Approval from DDPU
  Approval from Headmaster/ Principal of respective schools
  Informed consent will be taken from the parents of participants, after proper explanation about the purposes and usefulness of the study and assurance will be given          about the confidentiality of their responses.
· Informed assent will be taken from participants.

14. Review of literature:

A study done in USA, “Dimensions of Peer Influences and Their Relationship to Adolescents’ Aggression, Other Problem Behaviors and Prosocial Behavior” Five domains of peer influence and their relationships to adolescents’ problem and prosocial behaviours were investigated. Self-report and teacher ratings were obtained for 1787 (53 % female) urban middle school students. Peer pressure for fighting and friends’ delinquent behavior were uniquely associated with aggression, drug use and delinquent behavior. Friends’ prosocial behavior was uniquely associated with prosocial behavior. Friends’ support for fighting and friends’ support for nonviolence were not as clearly related to behavior. (Albert D. Ferrell, Erin L. Thompson, Krista R. Mehari, 2017)

A survey was performed in various schools of Karachi (Pakistan) on Adolescent life style and behaviour. Females were more depressed than males and had more sleep problems. Substance abuse and other addictions were documented more in males. Watching television or listening to music was stated as the most common late night activity (61.8%) and therefore was also referred to as the contributory factor for less than eight hours of sleep each day. (58.9%) of the respondents are getting less than eight hours of sleep daily. (41.5%) of the respondents who felt depressed sought treatment for it. Quite a few of them were also indulged in substance abuse and other addictions. Only (16.8%) of the respondents opined that physical activity is essential for health. Thirty-five adolescents out of all the respondents were smoking cigarettes currently, whereas 7% of the respondents chewed paan (areca nut). Peer pressure was the most common reason (37.1%) to start smoking.  (Waris Qidwai, Sidra Ishaque, Sabeen Shah, Maheen Rahim, 2010).

A cross-sectional study to assess Prevalence of Alcohol Consumption, Tobacco Use and Sexual Behaviour among Adolescents in Urban Areas of the Udupi District, Karnataka,. The prevalence of alcohol consumption, tobacco use and sexual activity was found to occur in 5.7%, 7.2% and 5.5% of participants, respectively. The mean age of the participants’ first sexual activity, consumption of alcohol and tobacco use was reported to be approximately 16.8 years. Multivariate analysis showed that males were more likely to have used alcohol and tobacco. Other factors, such as religion and tobacco use among family members, were found to be influential. (Padma Mohanan, Subhashisa Swain, 2014)

Does the adolescents in Udupi have peer influence? Is it negative or positive and how is the behaviour among adolescents in Udupi taluk. Since the above studies shows that there are some negative behaviours among adolescents, but is it due to the effect of peer influence?