Education and Human Sciences, College of (CEHS)

 

Date of this Version

Winter 12-10-2014

Comments

A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts, Major: Educational Psychology, Under the Supervision of Professor Ian M. Newman and Erick S. Buhs. Lincoln, Nebraska: December 2014

Copyright (c) 2014 Lanyan Ding

Abstract

The present study uses a cross-sectional method of subgrouping and examines the influence of peer pressure on college students’ alcohol use in China. A total of 951 undergraduate students (freshman, sophomore, and junior) from a university in central China volunteered to fill out questionnaires in convenient classrooms. The extent of perceived peer pressure and corresponding drinking behavior were examined separately in subpopulations categorized by gender and peer groups (History major and Physical Education major). The mediational role of alcohol self-regulation self-efficacy on pressure- drinking association was also examined.

Results have indicated gender differences and subgroup differences (HIST and PE) for perceived peer pressure. Pressure was significantly related to alcohol drinking frequency for both peer groups. Results from a path model indicated that perception of peer pressure was negatively correlated with alcohol self-regulation self-efficacy. Less alcohol drinking frequency was predicted by higher level of self-regulation self-efficacy. The results suggest that educational strategies could be developed to teach students social skills to resist pressure from peers.

Advisors: Ian M. Newman and Eric S. Buhs

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