The Effects of Positive Peer Pressure Among Adolescent Girls: Academic Achievement Motivation and School Engagement

Presenter Information

Megan Lynn Moran, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU 202

Start Date

22-4-2008 8:30 AM

End Date

22-4-2008 10:30 AM

Student's Major

Psychology

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Sarah Sifers

Mentor's Department

Psychology

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

The transfer from elementary school to junior high or middle school can be difficult for many adolescents because of the changes in environment and the increased responsibilities both at school and at home. It is expected that during this period positive peer pressure, such as a friend inviting you to do charity work or join a school athletic team, will increase academic achievement motivation and school engagement in adolescent girls even more than boys. The study, consisting of 200 adolescents from public secondary schools, used the Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors questionnaire (Search Institute, 1996). For academic achievement motivation, positive peer pressure was found to be a significant predictor, though neither gender alone nor the interaction of gender and positive peer pressure were significant. The results for school engagement showed that the interaction between gender and positive peer pressure were not a significant predictor, but independently gender and positive peer pressure significantly affect school engagement. All significant correlations were positive. Implications will be discussed.