Development and Preliminary Validation of Peer Pressure Assessment Scale (PPAS) for Pakistani Adolescents

Abstract

The present research was conducted to develop an indigenous scale to measure peer pressure for adolescents (14-18 years). Behaviors exhibited due to peer pressure were identified using theoretical and empirical methods. A total of 161 behaviors were generated, of which 58 were transformed into items. The Peer Pressure Assessment Scale (PPAS) used a four-point Likert scale: Never (1), Sometimes (2), Seldom (3), and Always (4). The scale was administered to 207 adolescents (118 girls, 89 boys) from various schools and colleges in Sargodha. Principal component factor analysis provided a two-factor solution with 29 items: Destructive Influence of Peer Pressure (22 items) and Constructive Influence of Peer Pressure (7 items). The internal consistency of PPAS was high (α = .84). The study found no significant gender differences in experiencing peer pressure.