Peer Influence as a Predictor of Identity Formation among Secondary School Students in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the pattern of identity formation among secondary school students in Ekiti State. The relationship between peer influence and identity formation among the students and determined the predictive ability of peer influence on identity formation among the students in the State. These were with a view to providing information on the predictive ability of peer influence on identity formation among secondary school students. The study adopted the survey research design. The population comprised secondary school students in Ekiti State. The sample size consisted of 750 students who were selected using multistage sampling procedure. One senatorial district was selected from the three senatorial districts using simple random sampling technique. All five Local Government Areas (LGAs) were selected from the senatorial district. Five schools were selected from each of the LGA using simple random sampling technique. Thirty students were selected from Senior Secondary Class 2 (SS2) using purposive sampling technique. The students completed two questionnaires and they provided information on patterns of identity formation and peer influence. The results showed that (61.6%) of the students exhibited exploration pattern of identity formation, (22.8%) of the students exhibited commitment pattern of identity formation and (16.6%) of the students exhibited both exploration and commitment pattern of identity formation. The results also showed that peer influence predicted exploration pattern of identity formation (N=438, r=0.544, p<0.05), peer influence also predicted commitment pattern of identity formation (N=162, r=0.265, p<0.05).