Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Academic Stress and Peer Pressure as a Gateway to Undergraduate Substance Use

The use of alcohol consumption can be associated with stressors inside and outside of school. The main goal of this study was to examine how peer pressure and academic stress may increase the likelihood of substance use. We hypothesized that peer-pressure has an effect on drug and alcohol use among college undergraduate students. Our second hypothesis was that academic stress among collegiate members had an effect on drug and alcohol use. Students from our university were given an online survey to complete with the help of an online survey generator, Qualtrics, and professors. Participants were 74 college students with 36 of the participants being between the ages of 18 and 20, 30 of the participants were between the ages of 21 and 23, and 8 of the participants were 24 or older. The survey consisted of 84 questions on academic stress, peer pressure, alcohol use, and drug use. The types of scales used in our research were Likert-type responses on a 5-point scale. Open-ended questions were also used. Participants were also asked three additional demographic questions. We found that peer pressure is a leading predictor of alcohol and drug use in college students. Our results indicate drug use has a relationship to peer-pressure among collegiate members. The study conducted is important because many college students result in using substances as a way to cope with academic stress. On the other hand, many college students also use substances to feel like they belong within their friend group.