PEER PRESSURE, MEDIA AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AS PREDICTORS TO DRUG ABUSE AMONG FEMALE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated peer pressure, media and environmental factor as predictors to drug abuse among female undergraduate students in Delta State, Nigeria. The study was guided by three null hypotheses. Correlation research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised of 5540 undergraduate students in Delta State. Multistage sampling method was used to select 420
female undergraduate students. Four research instruments used for this study were entitled Peer Pressure Questionnaire (PPQ), Media Influence Scale (MIS). Environmental Factor Scale (EFS) and Drug Abuse Inventory (DAI). The instruments were reviewed by experts using construct and content validity and a reliability indices using Cronbach Alpha yielded a reliability coefficient of r =
.74 for the PPQ, r = .76 for MIS, r = .83 for EFS and r = .76 for DAI. Data were analysed using multiple regression analysis to test the hypotheses. The result showed that peer pressure, media and environmental factor jointly and relatively had a significant prediction on drug abuse among undergraduate female students. The study concluded that peer pressure, media and school
environment, play a key role in the life of every female undergraduate student. It is, therefore, important that government, parents, teachers, counselors and educational psychologist contribute positively in helping university undergraduate students that are into drug abuse. The study, therefore, recommended that urgent grass root approaches and enlightenment by governments and
institutions against the growing threat and dangers of drug abuse to the nations' economic growth and development. The study also recommended that psychological counselling and therapy should be given to all students that are experiencing various degrees of trauma as a result of drug abuse.