STRESS, SELF-ESTEEM AND PEER PRESSURE AMONG MIZO ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Adolescence is a period when numerous developmental changes as well as personal and social challenges are experienced. This generates the need to understand some of the crucial factors that may lead to inadequate development. The present study attempts to assess stress, self-esteem and peer pressure among Mizo adolescents. Seventy- eight (78) Mizo adolescents (39 males and 39 females) within the age range of 15-18years, belonging to Aizawl city, served as subjects for the study. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.40; p<0.01) was found between stress and self-esteem indicating high levels of stress that corresponds with low self-esteem. A negative correlation (r= -0.18; p>0.01) and a positive correlation (r=0.14, p> 0.01) is also found between peer pressure and self-esteem, peer pressure and stress respectively but is non-significant. Findings also indicated significant gender differences in stress (F=14.42; p <0.01) and self-esteem (F=33.96; p <0.01) with males (M= 77.46) having higher level of self-esteem than females (M= 64.84), and females (M= 24.67) having higher stress levels than males (M= 19.67).