Impact of Peer Influence on Social Behavior and Students Performance at Secondary School in District Mardan

Abstract

Peer influence has a considerable impact on the social behaviour and academic achievement of adolescents, especially in secondary school where peer influences are stronger. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of peer influence on social behavior and academic performance of the female secondary school students of Tehsil Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. The quantitative descriptive survey design was applied, with 300 students randomly selected from Grade 9 and 10 from ten government girls' secondary schools. The data was gathered using structured questionnaire and analyzed descriptively, by one-sample t-test, Pearson correlation and regression analysis. The results showed that peer influence had significant impact on students' social behavior and academic performance. The One-sample t-test showed that there were statistically significant positive perceptions on the influence of peers on social behavior and academic achievement (p < .001). There was also a weak, but significant positive correlation between social behavior and academic performance (r = .125, p = .031). Regression analysis also showed that moderate but significant contributions to predicting academic performance came from social behavior. Based on the study, it is concluded that positive relationships with peers positively impact cooperation, motivation, classroom participation, and study habits, while negative relationships impact distractions, poor social adjustment, and low interest in schoolwork. The results indicate that mentoring, counseling, and productive school climates are needed to encourage positive peer interactions both in and out of school for the school, parents, and educational authorities.