Peer Pressure and Parental Upbringing as Correlates of Promiscuity among Teenage Students in Delta South Senatorial District

ABSTRACT
This study examined the relationship of peer pressure and parental upbringing with promiscuity among secondary school students in Delta South Senatorial District. The study was guided by two research questions and two null hypotheses and adopted a correlational research design. The population consisted of 32,865 students drawn from 159 public secondary schools in the district. From this population, 380 students were selected through a multistage sampling procedure based on Krejcie and Morgan’s sample size guide. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire made up of three scales measuring peer pressure, parental upbringing, and promiscuity. Following expert validation and factor analysis, the Peer Pressure Scale contained 17 items, the Parental Upbringing Scale contained 18 items, while the Promiscuity Scale contained 15 items. The reliability of the scales was established using Cronbach’s alpha, which yielded coefficients of 0.86, 0.85, and 0.91 respectively. Pearson Product Moment Correlation and coefficient of determination were used to answer the research questions, while linear regression was used to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that peer pressure had a moderate positive and statistically significant relationship with promiscuity and accounted for 42.8% of the variation in the behaviour. Parental upbringing also had a high positive and statistically significant relationship with promiscuity and accounted for 58.5% of the variation. The study therefore concluded that the sexual choices of teenagers are closely connected with both the influence of their peers and the quality of guidance, supervision, communication, and support they receive at home. The study highlights the need for parents, teachers, counsellors, and school authorities to work together in helping adolescents resist harmful peer influence and make safer and more responsible decisions about relationships and sexuality.
Keywords: Peer pressure, parental upbringing, promiscuity, adolescents, secondary school students.

Educational Psychology

1. Akude, A. E., Azuji, I. M., & Akude, S. D. (2024). Understanding peer sexual norms, attitudes, and pressure: Correlates of risky sexual behaviours among secondary school adolescents in Anambra State, Nigeria. Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science, 37(6), 69–80. https://doi.org/10.9734/jesbs/2024/v37i61329 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Aliyu, T. K., & Aransiola, J. O. (2023). Parent-adolescent communication about reproductive health issues in Nigeria. SAGE Open, 13(2), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231166607 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Ayu, E. J., Demartoto, A., & Prasetya, H. (2023). Effects of parental monitoring and communication on the prevention of sexual risk behavior in adolescents: Meta-analysis. Journal of Health Promotion and Behavior, 8(3), 150–162. https://doi.org/10.26911/thejhpb.2023.08.03.01 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Baraki, S. G., & Thupayagale-tshweneagae, G. (2024). Individual and relational dynamics perceived to influence the sexual behaviour of adolescents in Ethiopia: A qualitative study. Frontiers in Reproductive Health, 6, 1348953. https://doi.org/10.3389/frph.2024.1348953 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Ezebuchi, O., & Chujor, C. J. (2023). Relationship between parenting styles and adolescents’ at-risk sexual behaviour in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. European Journal of Training and Development Studies, 10(2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.37745/ejtds.2014/vol10n2110 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Fred, S., Nabunya, P., Namuwonge, F., Namatovu, P., Damulira, C., & Ssewamala, F. M. (2024). Peer pressure and risk-taking behaviors among adolescent girls in a region impacted by HIV/AIDS in southwestern Uganda. Journal of Adolescent Health, 74(1), 130–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.08.006 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Gregory, F., Joboy-Okei, E., & Peterside, O. (2024). The prevalence and pattern of risky sexual behaviour among secondary school adolescents in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Nigeria. International Journal of Tropical Disease & Health, 45(11), 79–93. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijtdh/2024/v45i111607 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Ipinnimo, T. M., Rosiji, O. O., Asake, O. T., Ibikunle, O. O., Ipinnimo, M. T., & Asake, T. M. (2025). Adolescent sexuality education, sexual debut, and associated factors in Nigerian public secondary schools. Scientific Reports, 15, 23249. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06360-8 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Iwele, M. U., Ogadi, C., & Ajayi, P. O. (2025). Dynamics of sex education and trending sexual behaviours among secondary students in Delta State, Nigeria. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(4), 3719–3739. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.90400267 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Millanzi, W. C., Osaki, K. M., & Kibusi, S. M. (2023). Parent-adolescent communication about sexual and reproductive health and its determinants among adolescents: Baseline findings from a randomized controlled trial in Tanzania. SAGE Open, 13(4), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231216281 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Oghounu, A. E. (2025). Relationship among sex behaviour, peer pressure and drug use behaviour among secondary school adolescents in Delta State. DELSU Journal of Educational Research and Development, 22(1), 72–80. https://doi.org/10.61448/djerd22110 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Pathmendra, P., Raggatt, M., Lim, M. S. C., Marino, J. L., & Skinner, S. R. (2023). Exposure to pornography and adolescent sexual behavior: Systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e43116. https://doi.org/10.2196/43116 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Velazquez, E., Espinosa-Hernández, G., Garthe, R. C., Williams, C. D., Romo, S., & Corona, R. (2024). Processes underlying Mexican adolescents’ sexual behaviors and intentions: Examining the roles of familial cultural values and parental monitoring. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 30(3), 508–517. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000578 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Wilcox, U.-S. N., & Chujor, C. J. (2023). Permissive and authoritarian parenting styles as predictors of moral behaviour among secondary school adolescents in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Southern Nigeria. International Journal of Education, Learning and Development, 11(3), 58–71. https://doi.org/10.37745/ijeld.2013/vol11n35871 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Examine Sleep Deprivation among Adolescents: Evidence from a Selected Chinese High School in Johor, Malaysia
• Effectiveness of Learning PEMDAS through Game-Based Learning for Primary Students
• Socioeconomic Background and Self-Efficacy as Predictors of Emotional Resilience among In-School Adolescents in Abeokuta, Nigeria
• Muguka Related Activities on Students’ Self-Acceptance Levels in Mbeere South Sub County, Embu County, Kenya
• Emotional Neglect and Students’ Academic Performnce in Secondary Schools in Delta North Senatorial District