Self-Efficacy, Peer Influence and Substance Abuse among Secondary School Adolescents in Makindye Division, Kampala District

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-efficacy, peer influence and substance abuse among secondary school adolescents in Makindye division, Kampala district. Method: It was a quantitative cross-sectional study that involved multi-stage sampling. The calculated sample size of participants to take part in the study was 383 senior two and senior three respondents both male and female. The study adopted both convenience and purpose sampling. Three schools were conveniently sampled, considering one government and two private. Results: The 377 completed questionnaires were considered for analysis, and the participants were mainly from senior two and senior three with 179 males and 198 females. There were significant relationships between; self-efficacy and substance abuse (r = -.172;** p 0.05) among secondary school adolescents. Conclusion: With the exception of peer influence and self-efficacy, all the other relationships were significant and peer influence was found to partially mediate the relationship between self-efficacy and substance abuse among secondary school adolescents. Recommendations: The different stakeholders including the students, teachers, parents, government, among others should focus on increasing self-efficacy among adolescents to reduce substance abuse. They should also monitor peer influence among secondary school adolescents.