The Influence of Self-Esteem and Peer Pressure on Career Choice of Adolescents in Greater Accra, Ghana

Abstract

The study examined the influence of self-esteem and Peer pressure on the career choice of adolescents. The purpose was to determine the relationship between Peer pressure and career choice, the relationship between self-esteem and career choice, and compare the influence of self-esteem and Peer pressure on adolescent boys and girls. Cross-sectional and descriptive was the research design. Cluster sampling was used to select four schools, and stratified proportional, and simple random sampling was used to select 200 respondents. Rosenberg self-esteem, Peer pressure, and career decision scales were used to collect data from 200 Senior High School students in selected schools in the Greater Accra region Ghana. Pearson’s correlation and regression analysis were the statistical tools for the analysis of data. The results indicate that self-esteem positively correlates with the career choice of adolescents. Peer pressure positively correlates career choices of adolescents. There is no gender differences in Peer pressure and career choice of adolescents. Challenges of career choice among adolescents include the lack of career guidance, the influence of family, general indecisiveness, the desire to pursue a career that earns much, and the opinion of their peer concerning career choice.