EXAMINING THE INTERACTIONS OF GENDER AND HOW IT AFFECTS PEER PRESSURE TO

ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS 1

Examining the Interaction of Gender and how it Affects Peer Pressure to Engage in Risky
Behaviors
Mackenzie A. Glaser

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Introduction

Problem
EXAMINING THE INTERACTIONS OF GENDER AND HOW IT AFFECTS PEER PRESSURE TO
ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS 2
“Age difference revealed that early adolescents were higher on peer pressure,

happiness, different aspects of aggression and achievement motivation whereas late

adolescents were higher on hostility” (Chatterjee et al, 2017). This leads us to believe that there

is an inverse relationship between age and peer pressure. It also states that a “gender

difference profile revealed males scoring higher on peer pressure and hostility, whereas

females scored higher on happiness, different dimensions of aggression and achievement

motivation” (Chatterjee et al, 2017) in adolescents. Here we sought to see if peer pressure is

related to engaging in risky behaviors such as reckless driving, cheating, and risky sexual

behavior. We thought this was important to look at because we wanted to look at the

interaction of these three variables as we found limited research on these specific

demographics (gender, peer pressure, and risky behaviors). This could benefit gender specific

programming and prevention of these behaviors.

Literature Review

Widman et Al (2016) looked at how peer pressure can affect risky sexual behaviors. In

this research study, they performed a “within-subjects” research experiment with young

adolescents. They received a paper test where they must respond to sexual scenarios and then

were given a chatroom environment with a confederate peer with the same scenarios. This

study concluded that 78% of adolescents responded to peer pressure and acted differently in

the chatroom vs the test. They also found out that boys were more likely to react to peer

pressure than girls (Widman et Al., 2016).

Shephard et Al. (2011) looked at the interaction between risky driving and peer

pressure. They conducted a study where they took two seperate groups of college students and
EXAMINING THE INTERACTIONS OF GENDER AND HOW IT AFFECTS PEER PRESSURE TO
ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS 3
had one group drive with a peer that encouraged reckless driving and one group had a

passenger that did not encourage reckless driving. They concluded that college students with

passengers encouraging reckless driving were significantly more likely to engage in risky driving

behaviors.

When looking at this topic it is also important to look at how gender interacts with

engaging in risky behaviors. For example, Kobayashi et Al (2012) looked at how cheating is

affected by gender. Participants took a self report survey and found that there was not a

significant difference between men and women in their cheating history. This relates to our

study because it points out how gender does not necessarily mean that they are more or less

likely to engage in this specific risky behavior.

The effects of susceptibility depending on gender was another variable that played a

part in the relationship between peer pressure and risky behaviors. Bellemare et Al (2010)

conducted an experiment on peer pressure and gender in the workplace. They introduced two

groups of equal parts men and women. They then had one group exposed to peer pressure and

one that was not . The one with peer pressure was much more likely to be unproductive than

the one without peer pressure. They also see that there is not a huge difference in the reaction

to peer pressure in the form of productivity between men and women.

Lastly, there was a study conducted that looks at motorcyclist accident involvement as a

result of risky driving by gender. The study by Chang et Al (2007), looked at the correlation

between gender and accidents by looking at records in taiwan and looking at the behaviors that

were the fault of the incident as well as possible negligence such as not taking proper safety
EXAMINING THE INTERACTIONS OF GENDER AND HOW IT AFFECTS PEER PRESSURE TO
ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS 4
measures. They found that males were significantly more likely to both engage in risky driving

behaviors as well as disregard safety precautions.

Summary, Rationale, and Hypothesis of Study

These previous research experiments provides the backbone to what we chose to look

at. These experiments look at different interactions involving gender, peer pressure, as well as

engaging in risky behaviors. We know from previous research that gender is not a huge factor in

peer pressure but had a big influence on potential to engage in risky behaviors. It is also known

that peer pressure has a high correlation with engaging in risky behaviors. This influenced our

study by having us look at how all of these interact on an adult level where most studies on

peer pressure and risky behavior are done in teenagers or children. We decided to develop a

survey for college students to look at the interaction of gender, peer pressure, and engaging in

risky behaviors. Based on previous research, it is predicted that in our research we will find that

there is a significant difference in gender when it comes to engaging in risky behaviors due to

peer pressure.

Methods

Participants

The participants consisted of 59 students that were a part of the Research Methods and

Design class (211W) at Minnesota State University, Mankato. This was a class activity that they

were asked to complete for class credit between November 17th, 2019 at 10:52 pm and

November 20th, 2019 at 11am. The group that created it consisted of 5 students that also

participated in the survey. The survey took between 63 seconds and 35,551 seconds to

complete with the median being 129 seconds. The demographics of the participants include 11
EXAMINING THE INTERACTIONS OF GENDER AND HOW IT AFFECTS PEER PRESSURE TO
ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS 5
males and 48 females that completed the survey. It was also asked that participants disclose

their age range. It was found that 37 participants were between 18 and 20 years of age, 16

participants were between 21 and 23 years old, 1 participant was between 24 and 26 years old,

and 5 participants were older than 26 years old. Ethnicity was also another demographic that

was reported on. It was found that there were 48 participants that identified as caucasian, 4

identified as other, 3 identified as hispanic, 2 identified as asian american, 1 identified as native

american, and 1 identified as pacific islander.

Assessments and Measures

Qualtrics was used to create this survey for the participants. It consisted of 20 questions

where the first 3 were demographic questions and the 17 after were pointed questions.

Participants were asked to complete the survey in which 17 questions had a numeric type

question and 3 had a string type question. These questions were asked in order to examine the

interaction between gender and engaging in risky behaviors as a result of peer pressure.

Statistical Analysis

In this study the one-way ANOVA was used. The significance was defined as p <0.05. The

independent variable was gender identification (male or female) and if the person has been

peer pressured (yes or no). The dependent variable was identified as whether or not the person

has engaged in risky behaviors or not (yes or no), if they have felt like they needed to engage in

risky behaviors in order to fit in (yes or no), and if they have been peer pressured or not (yes or

no).
EXAMINING THE INTERACTIONS OF GENDER AND HOW IT AFFECTS PEER PRESSURE TO
ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS 6
Results

As shown in Figure 1, an independent t-test revealed significant difference in gender and

whether or not they have engaged in risky behaviors [ t (57)= -2.134, p= 0.037]. It is shown that

males are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as driving recklessly. This figure shows

the mean for the people that identified as male was 1.45 vs 1.77 in females (1 indicated yes

they have engaged in risky behaviors and 2 indicated no). With p = 0.037, it indicates a

significant difference in the genders.

As shown in figure 2, an independent t-test showed a significant difference between

peer pressure and their likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors in order to fit in [t (56) = -2.180

p= .033]. It is shown that when peer pressured you are more likely to engage in risky behaviors

in order to fit in. While looking at this data it appears that 47 people indicated that they have

been peer pressured and 11 indicated that they have not. With a mean of 2.72 for the people

who indicated they have felt peer pressure and 3.45 for people who indicate they haven’t felt

peer pressure, this indicates that people that are not peer pressured are less likely to believe

that they need to engage in risky behaviors to fit in (4 indicated definitely not, 3 indicated

probably not, 2 indicated probably yes, and 1 indicated definitely yes). With p = .033 this

indicates a significant difference between the peer pressure and likelihood of engaging in risky

behaviors.

As shown in figure 3, an independent samples t-test showed no significant between

gender and being peer pressured [t (56)=.771 p=.444]. It is shown that females are slightly more

likely to be peer pressured but not significantly. In the figure it outlines how 47 women and 11

men answered the question. It also showed how the mean for the women was 1.17 and it was
EXAMINING THE INTERACTIONS OF GENDER AND HOW IT AFFECTS PEER PRESSURE TO
ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS 7
1.27 for men. This outlined that men were less likely to say that they have felt peer pressure

than women (1 indicated yes and 2 indicated no). There was a slight difference but with p=.444

it indicated no statistically significant difference.

Figure 1

IV: With which gender do you best identify?

DV: Have you ever participated in a risky behavior such as driving recklessly? (ex: street racing)

Figure 1 outlines how gender affects the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors such as

risky driving using an independent sample T-test.

Figure 2

IV: Have you ever been peer pressured?

DV: Have you ever felt like you had to engage in risky behaviors to fit in?
EXAMINING THE INTERACTIONS OF GENDER AND HOW IT AFFECTS PEER PRESSURE TO
ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS 8

Figure 2 outlines how peer pressure affects if they felt they had to engage in risky

behaviors to fit in using an independent samples T-test.

Figure 3

IV: With which gender do you best identify?

DV: Have you ever been peer pressured?

Figure 3 outlines how gender affects if they have ever felt peer pressured using an

independent samples T-test.

Discussion

Interpretation
EXAMINING THE INTERACTIONS OF GENDER AND HOW IT AFFECTS PEER PRESSURE TO
ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS 9
Figure 1 is shown that males are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as driving

recklessly. Figure 2 also shows that you statistically more likely to engage in risky behaviors if

you are in situations where you feel peer pressured frequently. Lastly, the third figure looks at

the link between gender and how likely they are to feel peer pressured. This last figure showed

no statistically significant difference between genders. These results match up with previous

research as it states that there is not a huge difference between genders and peer pressure

rates. It also lines up in the respect that there is a difference in gender and engaging in risky

behaviors. This shows that the same conclusions hold true in different age groups and

environments. This also proves that the hypothesis stated in the beginning of this research was

correct in this setting.

Limitations

The limitations of this survey are the amount of participants as well as the variety of

participants. We surveyed college students in two research methods and design classes at

Minnesota State University, Mankato. It would be beneficial to expand this project to a wider

scale in order to examine people from different backgrounds and environments.

Questions

In future research, it would be beneficial to look deeper into the interaction specifically

between peer pressure and risky behaviors. It would be beneficial in order to look into what

specific behaviors interact the closest between these two factors. It also could be beneficial to

look into perceptions of peer pressure between genders. Perception may be different due to

acculturation between the genders and that is an avene that would be worth looking at. This

research experiment raises the question as to whether or not there is a third party variable
EXAMINING THE INTERACTIONS OF GENDER AND HOW IT AFFECTS PEER PRESSURE TO
ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS 10
influencing these three variables. It is also possible that there may be a cultural difference

between the United States vs a different country that could influence the results. All of these

questions are ones that can be further examined. With this research, we hope to outline

research in this area for the future.

References

Chang, H., & Yeh, T. (2007). Motorcyclist accident involvement by age, gender, and

risky behaviors in Taipei, Taiwan. Transportation Research Part F: Psychology and

Behaviour, 10(2), 109–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2006.08.001

Bellemare, C., Lepage, P., & Shearer, B. (2010). Peer pressure, incentives, and gender:

An experimental analysis of motivation in the workplace. Labour Economics, 17(1), 276–

283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2009.07.004

Chatterjee, S., Sehgal, A., Kundu, A., Ghatak, D., Dotta, N., Patla, P., & Sengupta, P.

(2017). Effect of age and gender on psychological correlates of peer pressure in

adolescents. Indian Journal of Community Psychology, 13(1), 67+. Retrieved from,

https://link-gale-com.ezproxy.mnsu.edu/apps/doc/A488193687/EAIM?

u=mnamsumank&sid=EAIM&xid=c5501f23
EXAMINING THE INTERACTIONS OF GENDER AND HOW IT AFFECTS PEER PRESSURE TO
ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS 11
Kobayashi, E., & Fukushima, M. (2012). Gender, Social Bond, and Academic Cheating in

Japan*. Sociological Inquiry, 82(2), 282–304. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-

682X.2011.00402.x

Shepherd, J., Lane, D., Tapscott, R., & Gentile, D. (2011). Susceptible to Social Influence:

Risky “Driving” in Response to Peer Pressure. Journal of Applied Social Psychology,

41(4), 773–797. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2011.00735.x

Widman, L., Choukas-Bradley, S., Helms, S., & Prinstein, M. (2016). Adolescent

Susceptibility to Peer Influence in Sexual Situations. Journal of Adolescent Health, 58(3),

323–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.10.253