Adolescent peer pressure, leisure boredom, and substance use in low-income Cape Town communities

• Gaironeesa Hendricks

  University of the Western Cape

• Shazly Savahl

  University of the Western Cape

• Maria Florence

  University of the Western Cape

The aim in this study was to determine whether or not peer pressure and leisure boredom influenced substance use among adolescents in low-income communities in Cape Town, South Africa. Nonprobability sampling was used to select 291 adolescents aged between 16 and 18 years who were attending schools in 2 low-income communities in Cape Town. The research instruments were the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test, the Resistance to Peer Influence measure, and the Leisure Boredom Scale. Multiple regression analysis showed that the combined influence of peer pressure and leisure boredom predicted substance use among the adolescents. Of the two factors, peer pressure was the stronger predictor of substance use.

1. Gaironeesa Hendricks, University of the Western Cape
   Department of Psychology
2. Shazly Savahl, University of the Western Cape
   Department of Psychology
3. Maria Florence, University of the Western Cape
   Department of Psychology

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