Rationale of the study
Peers are the people whom you consider friends and spend time with In children and teens, they are usually of the same age group In adults, peers may be determined by shared interests and profession Peers tend to influence each other in terms of behaviour Kids who play with each other have the same toys, and try to do the same gestures Workers who perform well at work influence their partners to try harder These are examples of a phenomenon called “peer pressure”, which is defined by Oxford Dictionary as “pressure from people your age or social group to behave like them to be liked or accepted”.
Peer pressure among college students is significant College students tend to live far from their parents or protectors, which means there are no rules, no curfew, and that they have total control over their decisions In the case of National Economics University (NEU) students, especially sophomores, peer pressure can prove to be troublesome, as their courses put their focus on students’ activities, including working in groups or teams Second-year students have difficulties dealing with peer pressure, since they have to work on their graduation thesis They have to balance their time studying and their time with their peers, which can exhaust them. Pressure from schoolwork makes them vulnerable, and an easy target for temptations, that is party, drugs, et cetera However, having supportive peers who give their friends a helping hand, both in academic and recreational aspects can prove to be a source of motivation.
Seeing how positive as well as negative peer pressure can be, we decided to conduct a research on the topic “The effects of peer pressure on second year students at National Economics University”
Objective of the study
The specific objectives of the study are:
1 To identify the effects of peer pressure that second year students have to go through
2 To investigate how peer pressure affects second-year students.
3 To suggest some realistic and appropriate solutions to improve students’ ability to cope with peer pressures and recover their motivation.
Research questions
The study is conducted to answer the following research questions:
What are the effects that peer pressure has brought to second year students?
How can it affect them?
What are the solutions for sophomore students to overcome peer pressure?
Scopes
Peer pressure is an issue for everyone at every age, especially young people. However, this study only focuses on the second-year students from National Economic University This study is claimed to be an overview of current situations of the sophomore students who struggle with the negative aspects of peer pressure. The survey is also carried out to indicate and analyze the positive impacts, then offers some solutions to minimize those harms and to help students overcome the situations.
A survey will be carried out to cover a wide range of 100 second-year students from National Economic University This research will be investigated within 15 weeks.
Methods of the study
The study will be conducted using a quantitative method with a survey consisting of multiple choice questions and questions that were measured on a Likert scale In order to gather the quantitative data, the survey was sent to about 110 students Before the analysis of the gathered data was prepared, all the data will be synthesised by using Google Forms Second-year students’ answers will be identified from others by using Microsoft excel
A survey with a list of questions was designed for the sophomores in the School of Advanced Education Program that aims to get from general to specific information regarding content of a study The questionnaire was sent for 119 students at NEU Because the questionnaire depends on many factors, the survey is divided into different sections and can be a useful tool to get an overall effect of peer pressure on sophomores in NEU.
Step 1: Identify the data that are expected to collect The survey sample was selected through a purposeful sampling method among sophomores in NEU. The author distributed the survey questionnaire to second-year students by Google Form and collected them immediately after the respondents completed the questionnaire The languages used in the questionnaire are English and Vietnamese.
Step 2: Decide the method of the survey The questionnaire was designed and sent directly to each respondent The author explained the purposes of the research and answered any questions of respondents to get the most effective personal response.
Step 3: Diagram the substance of the questionnaire and select configuration of question Multiple choice questions, Likert Scale questions were used Multi- choice questions were designed to get background information and Likert Scale questions ( strongly disagree, disagree, undecided, agree, strongly agree) aimed to classify the level of evaluation of the effects of peer pressure on sophomores at NEU
Step 4: Build the structure of the questionnaire There are two main groups of questions in the survey, including the background information and detailed information so as to answer research questions.
Step 5: Collect and analyse the data This questionnaire is a part of our research and all those ideas including personal information will be kept secure and will be used for this research purpose only
Design of the study
The three-part research consists of:
Introduction, a brief presentation of the study’s rationale, purposes, scope, research questions, methodology as well as design of the study.
Development, includes the chapters below:
Chapter 1 Literature review, , covers the fundamental theoretical basis in peer pressure such as definition, types of pressure Especially, both positive and negative effects of peer pressure, which are the main issues of the study, are discussed thoroughly in this chapter.
Chapter 2, Findings & discussion, provides an analysis on the current impacts of peer pressure and reports the results of the survey research which are collected from sophomores at NEU.
Chapter 3, Recommendations, implication for the peer pressure of students, focuses on negative impacts and gives some suggestions for the students to overcome peer pressure.
Conclusion, summarizes all the key issues as well as the limitations of the study and suggestions for further study.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Definitions of peer pressure
As people get older, they are presented with some difficult choices Making decisions by oneself is hard, but they can be even harder when pressured by others. Peers are people who are in the same age group as you, such as classmates or coworkers In teenagers, peers are usually classmates or clubmates of the same age. When becoming an adult, peers may be defined more by shared interests or professions than by age.
Peers influence other peers' behavior, and get them into doing something. That phenomenon is called peer pressure Peer pressure, according to Treynor
(2009), is when a peer group or an individual exerts pressure on others to modify their attitudes, values, and behaviors in order to comply with group norms. Individuals may be affected by social groups in which they are formally members or just groups of friends Another theory that may closely define peer pressure is social cognitive theory, which proposes that students can learn to cope with stress by observing and experiencing the responses of people with whom they engage (Varela
& Prichard, 2011) Adolescents are more likely to act like their social circle, even in risky behaviors such as substance taking and reckless driving , as they believe that this will increase their standing among their peers and assure their position in the group.
Peer pressure is part of almost all children’s lives (Kessler, 2017) This phenomenon can be observed in any school setting, as well as organizations throughout the world, whereas individuals tend to align themselves with others that share the same values and beliefs.
Types of peer pressure
It is undeniable that peer pressure can be influenced and received in many ways This is also one of the principle reasons that peer pressure could be known under various types
Hardy, known as a professional freelance writer, (2020) demonstrated that there are two main types of peer pressure There is negative and positive peer pressure When a person or a group urges another to act in a way that is harmful to themselves or others, this is known as negative peer pressure For instance, talking to a peer to try alcohol, criminality, illegal activities are considered as negative peer pressures Although many people believe that peer pressure always brings negative effects, not all peer influences are detrimental, it can result in a positive outcome.Unlike negative peer pressure, as long as actions from peers have great impacts on a person, it is known as positive peer pressure In other words, this type of peer pressure results in good change in comparison with yourself in the past.
Factors that influence peer pressures
Peer pressure, which is sometimes called peer influence or social pressure, is a concern among people from every generation Since teenagers are easy to influence and not yet have the stability in beliefs, they may be more affected Social pressure can be built by many factors which come from the environment surrounding such as family, friends, school or even some strangers on the internet
Apparently, the first external factor that needs to be mentioned is social acceptance "Popularity and acceptance into a group in high school may be based on one or more of the following factors: good looks, athletic skill, social status,academic success, and future ambitions," Cavior and Dokecki (1973) argued.However, it will be difficult for those who cannot do it and people in those situations will easily suffer peer pressure The most compelling evidence is the shame feelings and jealousy of some teenagers seeing famous peers on social platforms like Tiktok have dream appearances
It is true that parents have a significant impact on their children's physical and psychological development Timing is important, children have a whole transitional period before completely turning into adults In that case, parents should be their friends during the process of the full development, especially concerning their mental health “It is a crucial period as adolescents can be easily swayed by their close relationships” (Boundless Psychology, 2015) Bad parenting can be expressed by actions to children, for example the lack of care According to Andreas
(2020) apathetic parenting causes those children to be more vulnerable to peer pressure He or she has less chances to state or value opinions in front of others in the future
Peer pressure is the power that members in the same social group hold over one another It's also the phrase for the effect of this influence on a person's need to conform in order to fit in with the group As a result, students in their second year are frequently under internal pressure to do what their friends are doing
The drive to fit in, low self-esteem, fear of rejection, a weak personality, mental health issues, anxiety, and, most importantly, the need to feel safe and secure from peers are all factors that contribute to internal peer pressure When peer pressure originates from within ourselves, it is known as internal peer pressure. Everyone puts pressure on oneself, even if he or she doesn’t acknowledge it. According to Yael (2015), self-imposed peer pressure leads to sentiments of never being good enough, refusing to accept compliments and instead considering them as challenges as well as anxiety seeping in as deadlines approach Many people are either unaware of or unwilling to admit the stress they are putting on themselves. Allowing failures to discourage one from trying, being always stressed, having excessive expectations, having intention to give up, and always demanding more from oneself are all behaviors that can open one's eyes.
Everyone is under pressure to blend in with their classmates and idols Peers who feel the need to be in charge will frequently surround themselves with weak- minded or low-esteem persons who will do their bidding.
Effects of peer pressure
Peer pressure has two sorts of effects: negative and positive People are usually influenced by the manner of life of our peers People enable others they care about, whether family, friends, classmates, or coworkers, to influence our own thoughts, decisions, and behaviors to some level That is the effect of peer pressure at work It can be beneficial to some extent The negative impacts of peer pressure are far more visible Teens, unfortunately, are often the most sensitive to the effects of peer pressure From the survey, it can be seen that most of the participants claimed that peer pressure will affect their mentally health Others claimed that they will have an effect on emotional development, behaviour and decisions respectively.
Peer pressure is a frequent source of concern for parents It is shown on television, possibly you read an article about the most recent incident at school Is peer pressure, however, really all that bad? It certainly can be, according to Carrie Silver-Stock (2016), a licensed clinical social worker, founder of Girls with Dreams, and author of Secrets Girls Keep: What Girls Hide (and Why) and How to Break the Stress of Silence "Negative peer pressure can damage self-esteem, influence clear decisions, and create stress," Carrie (2016) stated that at worst, it can lead to destructive or risky actions that can lead to death, such as drinking, driving, getting into accidents, overdosing on drugs, and so on.
While negative peer pressure receives much more attention from The media is not the only type of social pressure that affects adolescents Adolescents who surround themselves with positive people will also see the effects Decisions are active, the friends who support them develop self-confidence and self-esteem.
“When this peer pressure occurs in school, it has the potential to improve a teenager's academics or even friendships.” Carrie (2016) said
Throughout time, children will recognise the appearance of peer pressure.Especially, when in the second year in the university, the peer pressure will be revealed in the clearest way Students will be affected by the effect of peer pressure.Pressure from peers can have a beneficial or bad effect depending on how each student reacts Optimistic sophomores will take peer pressure as a motivation to work better or as a new experience they are willing to have to become a better version of themselves In contrast, students who see peer pressure in a negative way will decrease their self-confidence or feel separate from others There are some expression when confronting with peer pressure as follow:
Be influenced to gain new experience.
According to influence and peer pressure can be beneficial, college students may be persuaded to become more assertive, explore new activities, or get more active in school, for example Your classmates may persuade you to join clubs, sports teams, or religious organizations Without friends to inspire you to try sushi for the first time, listen to a CD you've never heard before, or offer moral support when you audition for the school play, your world would be significantly less diverse (D'Arcy Lyness, PhD, 2015) Peer group allows you to experiment with new social skills. Learning how to increase your circle of friends, establish connections, and work out differences by getting to know a variety of individuals — such as classmates or colleagues — is a great way to learn how to expand your circle of friends, build relationships, and work out differences.
Have more motivation in studying
Peers serve as excellent role models for one another Peers who are dedicated to performing well in school or excelling in sports might also influence students to be more goal-oriented Kind and loyal peers influence you to develop these qualities in yourself According to PhD D'Arcy (2015), even strangers can serve as role models, seeing someone your age compete in the Olympics, perform a piano recital, or lead a community project, for example, may encourage you to pursue a passion of your own Peers motivate individuals to work hard, assist one in studying, and empathize when they've had similar challenges.
Become a better version of yourself
When peer pressure is positive, it motivates you to perform at your highest level As students test out new ideas, explore beliefs, and address concerns, their peers listen and provide feedback Peers can also assist you in making decisions such as what courses to take, whether to trim, grow, or dye your hair, and how to handle a family disagreement Peers frequently offer helpful counsel to one another When your pals think you're making a mistake or doing anything unsafe, they'll inform you right away It can be difficult to try new things It necessitates bravery and self-assurance. Trying something new with friends can be motivating for young people It is possible that sharing new experiences with others will make them feel more at ease.
It may be able to assist them in overcoming their fears (Eden Pontz, 2019)
Get depressed because of thinking not good enough
Peer pressure can contribute to the development and maintenance of depression for not being good enough as one's peers Everyone is under pressure to fit in with their classmates and individuals they respect, but teenagers are under much more pressure to conform and gain praise College is infamous for having a plethora of cliques and groups that identify themselves through specific actions and the assignment of social status to individuals Teens are frequently urged to change aspects of their personalities or to pretend to be someone other than who they are in order to fit in with these cliques Because teenagers are still trying to figure out who they are as individuals, the added pressure to act or appear a specific way can leave them feeling confused or at odds with themselves When peer pressure forces them to act in ways they are uncomfortable with, it can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression among teenagers (Yael, 2015)
Get jealous with others’ success
They cannot be happy for the other because they themselves are not satisfied with their lives They may be disappointed and dissatisfied with their own achievements. They feel narcissistic and they want others to be more successful than them to feel the same way This is an unconscious defense mechanism The envious does not want to face his own Ego; They don't want to admit that they are weaker than the other and always want to present themselves as a perfect version of themselves but are actually extremely weak They suppress their own emotions and direct all their flaws to successful people
Decrease self-confident about yourself
Peer pressure that is negative can have a detrimental effect on your teen's self- esteem In some circumstances, children and teenagers become unduly reliant on their peers as a result of a lack of self-confidence Other people's teasing can make youngsters feel like they aren't as good as their peers They may be more concerned with their own failures than with their triumphs, or they may be too self-conscious to make an attempt in the first place They may fail to speak up for themselves when other teens or adults abuse them, and they may struggle to deal when they make errors or fail at something According to Paradigm Treatment Blog (2019), if your teen is surrounded by good, friendly, and supportive people, for example, this can help your son or daughter have greater self-esteem.
Abuse alcohol drinks to reduce pressures
Alcohol has dangerous side effects Alcohol has an effect on the areas of the brain that control movement, speech, judgment, and memory Drinking excessively can cause blurred vision, slowed speech, impaired memory, and difficulty walking Peer pressure is widespread among teenagers In 2014, nearly 60% of full-time college students had consumed alcohol in the previous month Many students drink alcohol at bars or house parties, where peer pressure is prevalent Giving in to peer pressure on a regular basis can lead to excessive alcohol consumption This could result in alcoholism or alcohol addiction.
Feel isolated from peers, lack direction in their lives
Today's youngsters are subjected to a great deal of peer pressure, particularly among the most susceptible kids Peer pressured teenagers often feel disconnected from their classmates, lack direction in their lives, are unsure of their place in a peer group, and have low self-esteem They follow the crowd in harmful ways, such as smoking, vandalism, drinking, sex, cheating, and sneaking out at night, because they want to fit in Teens who succumb to negative peer pressure sometimes lack support from their families, prompting them to seek approval elsewhere. Uncomfortable matters like drugs and sex must be discussed openly and honestly by family members If the family ignores such issues, the teen will seek answers from his or her classmates, who may or may not be accurate.
Peer pressure that is negative can have a negative impact on one's mental health It can lead to low self-esteem, poor academic performance, estrangement from family and friends, and an increase in despair and anxiety If left untreated, this could lead to self-harm or suicide ideation in adolescents.
According to American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, suicides among teenagers and young adults continue to be a severe issue For children, adolescents, and young people aged 15 to 24, suicide is the second greatest cause of mortality The majority of children and teenagers who attempt suicide suffer from a serious mental illness, most commonly depression brought on by peer pressure.
Suicide attempts in younger children are frequently spontaneous They may be linked to feelings of melancholy, befuddlement, or rage, as well as attention and hyperactivity issues.
Solutions to overcome peer pressure
The urge to fit in and feel like you belong to a group is natural, and most people experience it at some point in their lives, particularly throughout their adolescent and young adult years Peer pressure, or the thought that you must do what your friends do in order to fit in and earn respect, may be difficult to deal with.
It might be overt or subtle While peer pressure can be beneficial at times, it can also force you to do things you are unsure about or that you do not believe are good for you Dealing with peer pressure can be difficult, but it is critical to focus on your own personal values and preferences and make decisions based on those rather than peer pressure.
According to D’Arcy (2015), when confronted with overt or indirect pressure to undertake something you are unsure about, use the following strategies:
Ask for advice or support from parents or other trusted family members
If you find it hard to deal with any problems, talk to someone whom you truly trust.Don't feel guilty if you made a mistake or two Talking to a parent, a teacher or a school counselor can help you feel much better about what happened, and prepare you for the next time you face peer pressure.
Plan ahead on what you can say or do when under peer pressure
Think ahead about how you will handle this situation Decide ahead of time, and even rehearse, what you will say or do For instance, holding a bottle of water, a can of soda, or even an emptied beer bottle can reduce the chance of being offered what you don't want Check in with yourself Ask, "How am I feeling about this?" "Does this seem right to me?"; "What are the pros and cons of making this decision?". Being able to know how comfortable you are with what is happening will assist you to devise a plan should things go bad
Think on what will happen if you give into peer pressure and do what your peers do, or persuade you into doing.
When you give in to negative peer pressure, it is probable that you will feel guilty or disappointed with yourself for acting against your values Hence, it is important that you know the consequences of doing something risky so you can back out when things don't happen the way you like it to be.
When being pressured into committing risky behaviors, try to change the subject, or offer your peers another activity that is not risky
Understanding what others like will assist you in changing the subject of the conversation Bring up things at school such as a recent sporting event, or a contest, or any topic that your peers are interested in After changing the topic, ask your group if they want to go do something else – head to the movies, play games, do sports or anything that occurs within a safe space Having a peer who can help you out in deflecting the conversation can benefit significantly in persuading others.
Find a buddy, or a peer group who shares the same values and beliefs
You have probably had a parent or a teacher who always said "Choose your friends wisely" There is no need for unnecessary people around you, just those who fit well in your ideal thinking about career options, hobbies, If they have different opinions, listen to them and devise a compromise together However, if their opinions bother you, or if they just can't compromise, it is best for you to let them go It may not be easy to cut off existing relationships, but you can try to avoid them as much as possible Making new friends who share the same interest is better than having friends who don't get along with you.
Allow yourself to avoid individuals or situations that don't feel right
Leave a situation that becomes uncomfortable If you feel uncomfortable, back out even if your friends seem okay with what is going on This kind of decision making is part of boosting your self-esteem, becoming self-reliant and learning more about yourself, what you like or do not like If you don't want to lose face with your peers, arranging a "bail-out" code with your parents might be a good choice Having your parents call you back home to do their errands is a good reason to get out of a sticky situation.
Learn to feel comfortable saying no
With good friends you may never need an apology or an excuse But if you do need a reason to refuse, say, a smoke or beer, you can think up a few phrases to use For example, blaming your parents: "If my mom finds out, I will be grounded for months" can be a good phrase You can even make up dramatic stories: "My uncle just died because of cirrhosis and I'm not even looking at any booze" Being assertive can increase your image in your peers' eyes, and they will learn not to take you for granted.
FINDINGS & DISCUSSION
Background information
2.1.1 The importance of peers in life
The first chart gives information about the importance of peers.
Figure 2.1.1: The importance of peers in life
In general, more than half of students who accounted for 72,9% in total ( 31,4%: very important, 41,5: important) agreed that peers have played an important role in life Meanwhile, the percentage of people who feel neutral and very unimportant is approximately low which made up for 12,7% and 11,9% respectively A possible explanation for this might be that peers influence other peers' behaviour, and get them into doing something.Prior studies that have noted the importance of peers, in teenagers, peers are usually classmates or clubmates of the same age In adults, however, peers may be determined less by age and more by shared interests or professions.
The following chart indicates the results of question 3 and 4 in the survey questionnaire so as to research factors that influence peer pressure on second-year students at NEU
Figure 2.1.2.1: Internal factors influence peer pressure
It was found in the figure 2.1.1 that the highest percentage of sophomores at 72.6% considered poor self confidence as their internal reason for peer pressure Over half of the students thought that it was the anxiety that caused them the pressure among peers (52.1%) Explaining this, second year students tend to have low self awareness, and still doubt their ability to succeed One third of people who have done the research admitted that mental issues were the problem that causes them peer pressure (32.5%)
Figure 2.1.2.2: External factors influence peer pressure
The above figure reveals that a high proportion of the respondents (64.9%) agreed that future goals lead them to feel peer pressure 58.8% answered that another external reason causing the pressure was because of academic performance This is probably due to the fact that sophomores tend to put self-pressure in attaining life goals to have a bright future of being rich, having a high salary job, etc.
Interestingly, only 16.7% answered that bad parenting is the cause of their pressure. This statement could be a good sign of successful parenting in recent years
Overall, the internal factors causing peer pressure are poor self confidence and anxiety, the external reasons are pressure from future goals and academic performance Therefore, students should have high self awareness and put less pressure on themselves.
2.1.3 Types of peer pressure that sophomores facing
The next graph depicts the typical types of peer pressure that students face.
Figure 2.1.3: Types of peer pressure that sophomores facing
It is clear that more than half of sophomores, which accounted for 62.7% choosing negative peer pressure, were higher than that of positive peer pressure Generally, there was no significant difference between two types of peer pressure
It was foundation information that helped to examine what effects and how peer pressure influences students and finding some solution in terms of negative pressures In the next part, it will be explained detaily.
The effects of peer pressure on second year students at NEU
In the following figure, there are four types of effects of peer pressure that affect sophomores in National Economic University, they are behavior, thinking, decision and emotional development
Figure 2.2: The effects of peer pressure on second year students at NEU
As shown in the chart, the majority of students feel that peer pressure affects the way they think, accounting for 70.2% Following that, emotional evolution is the second most chosen option, 61 out of 114 students (53.5%) Moreover, behavior and decision are the least picked effects, 46.5% and 41.2% respectively From the given data, we can see no considerable differences between the three other aspects except from thinking It is easy to understand in this situation, two thirds of second-year students consider peer pressures to significantly affect their thoughts Thinking is the first action that happens to the human body when there are some external influences, then it governs behavior , emotions and decisions of people That explains why most survey respondents experience the changes in their thoughts outstandingly Discussing more about the case, students often obtain both positive and negative effects of peer pressure, but people who undergo the negative impacts will easily be dominated by emotions instead of rational thinking For that reason, it is logical that emotional development ranks second in this chart.
Measurements from second-year students about how peer pressure affected19 2.4 Suggested solutions of sophomores to tackle negative peer pressures
The collected data in the next figure reveals how peer pressure impacts second-year students at NEU.
Figure 2.3: Measurements from second-year students about how peer pressure affected
2 Feel isolated from peers, lack direction in their lives
3 Abuse alcohol drinks to reduce pressures
4 Decrease self-confident about yourself
5 Get jealous with others’ success
7 Get depressed because of thinking not good enough
8 Become a better version of yourself
9 Have more motivation in studying
10 Be influenced to gain new experience
When considering the negative effects on second-year students, the researcher found that the majority of the students accepted that they felt isolated and decreased self-confidence about themselves as well as having negative thoughts which accounted for 34%, 54% and 31% respectively According to the table, in terms of jealousy with other success and depression, the percentage of students undecided and agree is relatively the same There was an equal between undecided and disagreed (31%) when respondents considered the effect of wanting to discontinue It can be concluded that despite pressure from peers, they will strive to be recognised by everyone Specifically, there were a total 73% of students voting in strong disagreement (33%) as well as disagreement (29%) which accounted for the largest ratio of abusing alcohol drinks to relieve peer pressure It seems that consuming alcohol is not a common solution to tackle pressure among students in university
In the figure 2.3, generally positively, almost all students agreed that peer pressure brought advantage for them Particularly, there were 70% of respondents strongly agreed and agreed that they were influenced to gain new experience which three fold than that of disagreed Regarding more motivation in studying, 59 out of
118 students (49%) agreed and the other 24 students (20%) strongly agreed, whereas no one strongly disagreed Moreover, agreement and strong agreement choices outnumbered by 65% students in total voted for the item of becoming a better version It also can be seen from the figure that the percentage of the students who disagreed or undecided were relatively low in both three items
Besides it, another respondent also added a view that many peers took unsuitable words, actions, behaviors on others, even abuse them, as a psychological tool to call out loud the power, high level or status, but they imply an inability to defend when facing negative factors in reality
In conclusion, it is true that peer pressure has an influence on students in both emotion, thinking as well as action in positive and negative ways
2.4 Suggested solutions of sophomores to tackle negative peer pressures
The table 2.4 illustrates the evaluation of second-year students about the solution to tackle negative peer pressures.
2 Spend time for yourself to assess spend strengths and weaknesses instead
3 Find something to focus on and set aside peer pressure
4 Build self-esteem for yourself 0.8% 7% 35.9% 37.7% 18.4%
5 Speak with the individual who is putting you under peer pressure.
6 Recognize unhealthy behaviours to avoid 1.7% 4.3% 22.8% 50.8% 20.1%
7 Plan ahead on what you can say or do to avoid being pressured
8 Choose peers who share the same beliefs and values 2.6% 3.5% 21.9% 45.6% 26.3%
9 Avoid peers who can cause self-doubt, or may disregard your feelings
10 Back out when you are being negatively pressurized 4.3% 4.3% 23.6% 48.2% 19.2%
Table 2.4: Recommendations from second-year students to tackle negative peer
From the table, it is apparent that 59 out of 118 answers of students (50%) show the agreement of recognising unhealthy behaviors to avoid Regarding finding something to focus on and setting aside peer pressure, there were 58 out 118 students (49%) agreed with the thesis and other 27 students (23.6%) strongly agreed whereas there were only about 1 student strongly disagreed Moreover, agreement in spending time for yourself to assess strengths and weaknesses and backing out when you were being negatively pressurized both dominated other points of view.
However, when considering the student’s solutions for peer pressure, the researchers found that there were a considerable number of students who could not decide whether or not they agree with their points of view “Speaking with the individual who had put peer pressure on”, “building self-esteem” and “getting support from parents” are the points of view that students could not decide took the highest percentage with 39.4 %, 35.9% and 36.8% respectively According to the chart above, we can see that the ratio between agreement and indecision is quite close to each other for the solution of building self-esteem It can be concluded that despite many solutions proposed to reduce peer pressure, the solution involves parents mostly making students unable to decide if it is suitable for themself or not. This solution is the only one that has the percentage of undecided higher than any options (35.9%) The reason for this may be the generation gap From the table, most students tend to share pressures with their friends or find other recreation to have fun or probably just relieve stress instead of getting support from parents.
Specifically, in the last open question of the survey questionnaire, a student recommended that: “Everything happens for reasons, even peer pressure Focus on what you're doing, what you love to do, what you think it would help you to become your desired identity, personality All about them are the rhythm of life, let's feel it by your heart and judge it by your brain.”
To sum up, having studied and analyzed the results obtained from the data inGoogle Form for students in second-year students, many of the students had been found having poor self-confidence and moreover, pressurizing by future goals This led to the significant effect on student’s thoughts In general , the students tend to recognize unhealthy behaviors to avoid As a result, the researcher chose to use layout challenges and arguments that had not previously been employed in order to assist sophomores in lowering peer pressure.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations for students
It is essential for students to build their self - confidence to prevent them from questioning their abilities and struggling with the stress that comes from their peers Students with high self-esteem are better at avoiding negative peer pressure and influence, according to studies Beginning in their adolescent years, college students are often unsure about their own identity and look to their peers for advice and influence Teenagers are discovering who they are, what they believe in, and where they belong in the world Some of these impacts will be pleasant and beneficial, while others may make them susceptible to negative peer pressure and poor decisions It's acceptable to give in to peer pressure, but those with poor self- esteem are more prone to respond to negative influences Therefore, start a new sport or hobby, learn a new language, or find a part-time job, such as writing for a coursework service, where students may meet new people and broaden your skill set to demonstrate that you are valuable beyond the judgment of others
3.1.2 Get support and advice from a trusted adult such as a parent, teacher, or school counselor
It would be a smart choice for students to seek advice from a trusted resource Positive influences, such as parents or siblings, can directly educate them how to handle peer pressure Isolation has a significant detrimental impact on one's happiness Accepting that you require assistance and talking to someone about it is frequently the first step toward feeling better Speak with friends and family; they are the ones who know the best and care the most about you Having a reliable friend, family member, or other resource to turn to can help relieve some of the stressors of everyday life They might offer guidance or simply support in making the decisions one’s believe are best for them It can be isolating and intimidating to be subjected to peer pressure alone When dealing with peer pressure, having a support group to lean on can make all the difference
3.1.3 Weigh the emotions in the decision that has been made
It is critical to be aware of how we are feeling at any particular time When we're under a lot of stress and feel particularly vulnerable, we may go for the easy option The eventual outcome, though, can be disastrous Understanding how you feel and recognizing unpleasant emotions can assist you avoid making poor decisions Avoid peers who may cause self-doubt, lack of confidence, or who may entirely dismiss one's feelings
Peer pressure can make a person feel panicked, especially if they are in a hostile atmosphere It's ideal to have a plan that can help map out a reaction to reduce the possibility of impulsive decision making when under duress Consider many scenarios that make you uncomfortable and how to deal with peer pressure.What constitutes a satisfactory response? Are there any other ways to express "no"?It's acceptable to make excuses in order to avoid making decisions that you may believe are not in your best interests.
Recommendations for school
3.2.1 Promote self-learning and reflective thinking o Give students ownership over their education
When students are in command of their own learning, they feel a sense of togetherness, and the classroom becomes a space that they define Teachers, on the other hand, are more essential than ever in allowing students to exercise greater autonomy since only a great teacher can establish the scaffolding for this curriculum and learning experience, as well as attentively guide students through each step of the process.Designing activities that foster learner independence is essential because they invite students to engage more thoughtfully with the content, and that engagement should include students talking about their work Set exciting, open- ended exercises that target useful skills, meet learning objectives, and allow students to make decisions while assessing and reflecting on their progress to encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning. o Allow students to reflect on their learning by providing opportunities for them.
It is important to prompt reflective thinking as it helps students to know why they were or were not successful, and to help them make changes in their plan for a different outcome Students can use reflective thinking to cognitively analyze learning events, identify what they've learned, revise their understanding depending on new information and experiences, and apply what they've learned to new situations Students' reflections can serve as a powerful assessment tool for teachers to help them make changes to improve the lesson design.
3.2.2 Do not allow students to negatively pressure others
It's critical for teachers to demonstrate that they support this specific behavior.Teachers should create an environment where students are not afraid to fail and be ridiculed o Create opportunities for connection
Bullying attacks can be reduced and targeted students' healing can be facilitated by cultivating a feeling of community in the classroom.
When bullied teenagers feel connected to their peers, they are capable of coping with the situation It is feasible to prevent future bullying incidents by teaching students to speak up and then take a stand when they encounter hostile behavior.Teachers can begin by providing a safe environment for children to make a stand and also be heard Developing the students' ability to advocate within their own behalf and also for others Facilitate opportunities for positive encouragement outside of the classroom by assisting students in participating in afterschool activities relating to their hobbies and interests. o Identify the earliest signs of negative peer pressure and intervene
It is important that teachers notice even the smallest signs of peer pressure, and to take actions before things escalate If interventions are not taken in time, students who resist peer pressure can end up being bullied.
3.2.3 Increase students’ self-esteem and confidence
When students look satisfied with themselves, they can accomplish further in the classroom Teachers' roles comprise fostering can-do attitudes and boosting confidence by building students up for success and providing frequent valuable responses Students with strong ego are also more likely to complete challenging tasks and seek new experiences, as well as more equipped to cope with failures, disappointment, and failure Self-esteem is a lifetime requirement that children can easily enhance with the involvement of teachers Students' self-esteem is greatly influenced by the feedback they receive, especially when it comes from their mentors Students might be injured by unproductive, overly critical criticism, which can lead to low self-esteem Positive and constructive feedback, on the other hand, can have the opposite impact What students hear about themselves and their abilities has an impact on their self-esteem.
3.2.4 Teach students to realize that they can learn from their mistakes and how to deal with error
Making mistakes is broadly acknowledged as a crucial component of the learning process This is because if we struggle constructively to understand the mistakes rather than abandoning up in disgust after making a mistake, the problem- solving method stays with us longer than if we merely memorize the solution. o See mistakes as a source of understanding
When students are aware of incorrect solution concepts while working on a problem, they can go far deeper into the topic than if they are just given the correct solution and told to memorize it Teachers should not only rectify errors, but also ensure that students identify and understand why they made them Students will only be able to gain a deeper knowledge of the error and the proper solution strategy if they proceed in this manner. o Encourage independent mistake correction as a matter of habit
Giving students the ability to identify and correct their own errors as soon as they occur has a beneficial impact on their drive to learn Learning to explore for root causes and origins of errors enhances conceptual understanding at the same time.Learners must not just be recognized that they have made a mistake; they must also receive feedback on the characteristics of the error The greatest strategy to change cognitive patterns and prevent individuals from repeating the same mistake again is to utilize root cause analysis in conjunction with targeted individual support.
3.2.5 Employ a mental consult team specialized in helping students who are having negative thoughts
Mental health counselors can help negatively pressured students to explore what are the fears, insecurities, and challenges due to which students are giving in to peer pressure Counselors can then understand the intensity of the problem, and provide solutions
Recommendations for families
For a youngster, having strong companionships is an indispensable piece of their lives Being a piece of a companionship gathering can provide your teen with a feeling of having a place and be a good component in their lives Peer pressure isn't continually something to stress over as it tends to be just about as basic as acquainting something else with a youngster's life like new music, style, or encounters.
Nonetheless, there are times when the impacts of a kinship gathering can be negative or unsafe, and they might empower wrong decisions and choices This is the point at which a circumstance can turn into a worry for guardians.
3.3.1 Help children discover his or her interests and strengths and develop positive self-confidence
It is strongly believed that gaining self-confidence will help children less suffer from peer pressure Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses in different areas Therefore, parents should be a companion with their children on the path to finding passions and suitable things to pursue There are many areas surrounding our life such as academia, music, sports or even a talent that few people have and know about When children discover what they really fit, they will feel confident, no longer guilty, feel inadequate when around their peers Of course, this is something that needs to be done at an early age, when children are gradually forming behaviors and actions Finding interest will help people stay on the right track, unaffected by negative thoughts about the environment.
3.3.2 Encourage your child’s independent thinking
In some Asian countries, to take Vietnam as an example, it is very common to let parents make decisions on everything at an early age This action is actually helpful to children to have the right orientation on what to do, but sometimes it can be counterproductive, negatively affecting children's thinking and perception Many adults still have the habit of thinking dependently, do not have their own opinions on the surrounding issues, which easily leads to suffering peer pressure Helping children practice making decisions and thinking for themselves, is the right thing to do and should be done in the long run of your child's development Let children be in charge of their own decisions, parents’ missions are supporting in forming children’s own views and then making healthy decisions Help your youngster to have the certainty to settle on sure options and deny something that doesn't agree with them Having a solid ability to be self aware can assist them with building versatility against any types of misfortune in their lives Urge them to get to know what their identity is, the thing that qualities they hold and assist them with getting some down time to chip away at themselves.
3.3.3 Show empathy for your child’s anxieties and the feelings that come with peer pressure
Anxiety is something that happens to everyone in this world, it can be days or hours Nowadays, it is common for children to suffer anxiety, when there is too much pressure from the surrounding environment from school, friends and many other social problems Those external triggers make it easier for children to experience anxiety, especially when they feel inferior to peers Therefore, parents should show empathy to children, understand them, open hearts to talk with them, and help overcome these psychological obstacles Empathy here involves seeing things from a child’s perspective, listening and valuing the child’s feelings Sharing empathy with your children is incredibly important, it can help him or her learn to trust his or her own decisions, feeling more confident
3.3.4 Assist children in managing social pressures and anxieties, try to talk to them
Children, no matter how old or mature they are, to them, their parents are still a solid rear, who have a lot of experience, have many lessons learned and are always ready to give advice So observing how children deal with both internal and external pressures from which to give the most reasonable advice will be very helpful Parents can try asking questions about how he or she is feeling, giving attention to the peer pressures he or she experiences Surely they will feel cared for, will feel better when they see understanding from those closest to them Listen to your child, and at the same time give the most honest advice, possibly from personal experiences.Encourage your child or teen to see the bigger picture when faced with adversity Share your experiences with them so they can see you understand what they are going through Let them know that everything has a process and sometimes we have to go through these things to come out the other end stronger Young people will only learn to value themselves if those around them first value them Give them lots of positive encouragement and praise This will give them the necessary springboard to be assertive and have the confidence to say no to peer influence and pressure Family is the place where we can share our feelings, where we don't need to create a cover for ourselves, the most comfortable and carefree home.
Summary of the study
The purpose of the conducted study in this research was to examine what peer pressure can cause to sophomores and how they can deal with it in NEU.
From this research study, some students tend to have a thought that peer pressure is negative but others tend to see peer pressure in a more optimistic way. Therefore, there are advantages and disadvantages to examining this problem.
The literature clearly highlighted the factors that influence sophomores' peer pressure There were two types of factors: internal and external factors Both of the factors created a negative peer pressure for students Therefore, it may cause some mental illness to them From the survey, it can be seen that there were a significant number of students who chose that peer pressure will affect their thoughts Others chose emotional development, behavior and decision respectively to be the effect of peer pressure Some second-year students tend to have a feeling of peer pressure when they may think they were not good enough or they were isolated in a group or they just do not have the confidence in themselves.
However, beside the negative effects of peer pressure, there are some benefits when a student undergoes it From the survey, a majority of students took peer pressure as a way to motivate themselves The main idea of this is maybe the need of one particular individual to become a better version of his or her.
Moreover, the authors had provided some solutions for all the participants who took the survey Because studying in a university may help a student to work more and more independently so even when they have peer pressure, they tend to prefer spending time alone to assess themselves or find some alternative works than sharing the issue with their parents Besides that, some students choose to back out from their main activities to take a short break period or they may find someone different from their family to discuss with.
In conclusion, all of the research objectives were met, and the study is expected to considerably improve the current status of second-year students at NationalEconomics University participating in extracurricular activities.
Limitations of the study
Most research endeavors are certain to have limitations The research covered in this thesis is no exception due to a lack of time and knowledge First of all, the external limitation is the dangerous period of COVID-19 that we are living in and because of that, some of the methods cannot be used in order to create better research Therefore, practical experience may be lacking.
Secondly, due to the lack of time and understanding, the research has been conducted on a small scale The problem covered mainly the opinions of students through the survey In order to enhance the quality of the research, not only sophomores but also other – year students should be interviewed These shortcomings, ideally, will be addressed by additional research Hopefully, these limitations will ideally be resolved through further research.
Suggestions for further study
The diversity issues surrounding peer pressure should be considered in future studies As the number of approaches grows, it is first proposed that future research will solve the study's limitations Further research into the effects of peer pressure among students should be conducted in other faculties at National Economics University, according to the researchers Peer pressure among adolescents should be studied further in the future This could highlight the extent to which peer pressure affects adolescents This could also help to identify potential strategies for assisting NEU students in coping with peer pressure and improving organizational performance.
In the present, peer pressure is a common issue that many students from every level of ages face up with However, in many schools, the problem is usually underestimated due to the lack of communication between teachers and students.Therefore, a subject to help students to find the solution for the issue should be created By doing this, the authors believe not only decrease the percentage of students affected negatively by peer pressure but creating a subject like this will probably be a way for students to enhance communication better and better The gap between teachers and students will be shortened and this also can improve the quality of students when studying in class.
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We are students at National Economics University Now, we are doing a thesis on finding the effects of peer pressure on senior students at NEU We would like to ask for your help to answer questions about that topic.
This is a survey about your opinion on perception on real experience from peer pressure This questionnaire is a part of our research and all those ideas including personal information will be kept secure and will be used for this research purpose only We hope to receive your precious ideas and your opinion
Thank you for your cooperation
1.1 What do you think about the importance of peers in your life?
1.2 What types of peer pressure do you often get?
1.3 What internal factors influence your peer pressure?
1.4 What external factors influence your peer pressure?
1.5 What are your effects of peer pressure? Behavior (Hành động)
PART2: HOW CAN PEER PRESSURE AFFECT SECOND YEAR STUDENTS? Please indicate your opinion about each statement by choosing the appropriate column (SD= Strongly Disagree; D= Disagree; U= Undecided; A= Agree, SA Strongly Agree)
1 Be influenced to gain new experience
2 Have more motivation in studying
3 Become a better version of yourself
4 Get depressed because you think that you are not good enough
6 Get jealous with others’ success
7 Decrease self-confident about yourself
8 Abuse alcohol drinks to reduce pressures
9 Feel isolated from peers, lack direction in their lives
In addition to the above factors, would you like to add any comments?
PART3: WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS FOR SENIOR STUDENTS TO OVERCOME PEER PRESSURE ?
Please indicate your opinion about each statement by choosing the appropriate column (SD= Strongly Disagree; D= Disagree; U= Undecided; A= Agree, SAStrongly Agree)
2 Spend time for yourself to assess spend strengths and weaknesses instead
3 Find something to focus on and set aside peer pressure
4 Build self-esteem for yourself
5 Speak with the individual who is putting you under peer pressure.
6 Recognize unhealthy behaviours to avoid
7 Plan ahead on what you can say or do to avoid being pressured
8 Choose peers who share the same beliefs and values
9 Avoid peers who can cause self-doubt, or may disregard your feelings