Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM
Cigarette smoking and alcoholism are the chief preventable causes of death in the
world.
Smoking usually starts in adolescence and few people start smoking after 18 years of age.
Smoking significantly increases in adolescents who have other risk behaviors such as the
consumption of illegal drugs and alcohol. Having friends that smoke is positively
associated with adolescents’ smoking. The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes
some 4 million deaths a year due to tobacco, a figure expected to rise to 8.4 million
deaths a year by 2020. It is harmful to the body in the long run. With each puff of a
cigarette smoker comes in contact with more than 3,000 chemicals. About 1,200 of them
are poisonous.
Alcohol is the most used psychoactive substance among adolescents. Despite the
fact its consumption is illegal during adolescence, it still is an important problem in the
public health sphere because it is the highest risk factor posed to the health of this group.
Compared to people of other age ranges who also drink alcohol, adolescents present a
occasion: five or more for boys and four or more for girls) and are also more exposed to
Adolescents generally begin their experiences with drugs that are considered legal
such as alcohol and tobacco, in familiar environments. Peer pressure is highly predictive
of consumption.
A peer group refers to a group of people of roughly the same age and status who
spend time together. Peer pressure is the influence these people have on the life of the
individual. It involves adapting behaviors that the individual would otherwise not adapt.
If members of the group value a particular behavior, there will be a kind of pressure to
conform to this. So if friends drink alcohol, or use drugs, it can be hard to say no. Peer
are highly influenced by their peers which lead to cigarette smoking and alcoholism.
Affiliation with friends who engage in risk behaviors has been shown to adapt and imitate
very prevalent to adolescents especially at this time that most are becoming active to the
world trends or social acceptance and susceptible to this hallmark of adolescents. In this
identify why many adolescents are being influenced of the two vices particularly the
cigarette smoking and alcoholism, the researchers decided to conduct a survey in two
Sitio Maligaya barangay Pagsawitan where in the issue is rampant, timely and relevant.
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experimenting with new types of behaviors and face the challenge of adapting healthy
behavior. Healthy behaviors acquired during adolescents tend to prevail in adult life.
Likewise, behaviors that represent a risk to health and that are acquired during childhood
or adolescence are often difficult to eradicate in adult life and can have a serious impact
on health, in the short or long run. Cigarette smoking and alcoholism are among the risk
behaviors.
This research study therefore generally aims to answer the following questions:
a. Age
b. Gender
c. Address
II. What is the extent of influence of peer pressure among adolescents in relation
III. What are the possible health effects of cigarette smoking and alcoholism
among adolescents?
IV. What are the possible reasons why adolescents still continue on cigarette
Research Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis
1. There is no significant relationship between peer pressure and the possible reasons
Alternative Hypothesis
1. There is a significant relationship between peer pressure and the possible reasons why
contribution to the existing theories, researches and knowledge about cigarette smoking
and alcoholism.
options adolescents choose concerning the consumption of substances might have severe
The generalization of this present study would be a great contribution to the vast
knowledge in relation to the adolescents’ health. Vital results of this research could be
Firstly, study results will provide information to adolescents as they are the ones
subjected to peer pressure which results to cigarette smoking and alcoholism. Moreover,
this study shall make them more aware of the possible health effects that might occur in
Secondly, parents of the adolescents would make use of study results in terms of
the appropriate parenting strategies they shall use to better educate their children and not
Pagsawitan Santa Cruz, Laguna would make use of this study results in terms of the
formulation of implementing rules and regulations with regards to the proper use of
cigarettes and alcohols. They are the ones to raise awareness and will be gaining an
insight as to what measures are appropriate to help both adolescents and their parents so
Finally, on the part of the researchers which refer to the students conducting the
study. They will find self – fulfillment for this research will be used as basis for future
study. This research will serve as reference to help the parents and the community to gain
This study determined the effects of peer pressure, cigarette smoking and
focused on the male and female adolescents between 13 – 19 years old. The study was
Cruz, Laguna. Response of the respondents to the research instrument were taken in their
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face value, that is, answers to questions in the instrument were considered factual and
truthful.
Definition of Terms
Adolescents. They are the respondents with ages 13 – 19 years’ old and are the
ones subjected to peer pressure which results to cigarette smoking and alcoholism. They
are the respondents from the selected barangays of Santa Cruz, Laguna particularly in
Peer Pressure. Major factor that affects the adolescents’ behavior which leads to
cigarette smoking and alcoholism. It is a social pressure by members of one’s peer group
accepted.
which involve the act of inhaling or puffing generated by slowly burning tobacco or
cigarettes.
Chapter 2
This chapter presents a review, examination and analysis of related literature and
studies. This chapter includes the summary of the studies conducted by foreign and local
researchers and readings from professional literature which have significant bearings on
this study and serve as the springboard in conducting this research, as well as guide in
interpretation of its result. As a result of this review, the researchers gained insight and
RELATED LITERATURE
Foreign Literature
The use of tobacco for smoking has been practiced for centuries. The tobacco
plant has been grown in America since the 17th century and tobacco has been used in
various forms since. The form of smoking tobacco by rolling the leaves in fine paper was
frequently done by hand for those who practiced it, which limited the habit of smoking.
It was during the 1000 BC where the Mayan civilizations of Central America
begin using the leaves of the Tobacco plant for smoking and chewing. Gradually, the
habit is adopted throughout the America. In the late 1800’s, cigarette making machines
are developed that produce about 200 cigarettes per minute (today’s machines produce
smoking, including claims that it was useful for treating depression and a range of lung
Cigarette Smoking
hereafter referred to as “smoking,” is the largest single risk factor for premature death in
developed countries. Approximately one fifth of the deaths in the United States are
attributable to smoking, and 28% of the smoking-attributable deaths involve lung cancer,
37% involve vascular disease, and 26% involve other respiratory diseases. More than
400,000 deaths per year and 30% of all cancers in the United States are attributable to
smoking. Lung cancer is the largest single cause of cancer-associated mortality and is the
most common cause of smoking-related mortality in the United States. The attributable
risk from smoking for oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal cancers is substantial, although
less than that for lung cancer. The attributable risk from both smoking and alcohol
consumption accounts for the majority of both oral and pharyngeal cancers and of
esophageal cancer.
declines in adult male smoking prevalence in the United States observed from the 1960s
through the 1990s, the decline in current adult smoking prevalence slowed by about
1990, and recent surveys of current smoking in youth, defined as cigarette use on at least
one of the last 30 days preceding the survey, show a statistically significant increase
(from 27.5% in 1991 to 36.4% in 1997). The prevalence of current smoking among adults
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in the United States, defined as smoking daily or smoking on some days, is now about
23% in women and 27% in men and is statistically significantly higher in those less than
65 years of age; in those with 9-11 years of education; in those below the poverty
veterans. Projected demographic and smoking prevalence trends suggest that the absolute
number of current smokers in the United States, about 47 million individuals in 1995,
will continue to increase, especially in those below the poverty threshold, in those with
less than 13 years of education, and in those greater than or equal to 65 years of age.
while smoking prevalence among women worldwide is usually less than the prevalence
in men, although it has equaled or exceeded that in men in some northern European
countries. While annual per capita cigarette consumption has dropped in developed
countries from a high of more than 3000 in the 1970s to about 2600 in 1990, it is
increasing in developing countries (260% increase in China between 1970 and 1990), so
that worldwide annual per capita cigarette consumption has not changed substantially
over the last 25 years. Because of the delayed health effects of smoking, morbidity and
mortality in developing countries attributable to smoking have not yet surpassed those in
According to the 2007 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 39.5% of adolescents aged
Dentistry (2013), tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of morbidity and
mortality in the world. Worldwide, tragically the tobacco epidemic kills 5.4 million
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people a year from various tobacco-related diseases. Tobacco use usually starts in
adolescence and continues into adult life, meaning that many future victims tobacco use
are today's children. Adolescents and young adults of colleges are often targeted by the
tobacco industry for marketing. Research has shown that teen tobacco users are more
likely to use alcohol and illegal drugs than are non-users. The risks of tobacco use are
highest among those who start early and continue its use for a long period. The early age
of initiation underscores the urgent need to intervene and protect this vulnerable group
from falling prey to this addiction. The most common reasons cited for children to start
using tobacco are peer pressure, parental tobacco habits, and pocket money given to
them. Presently, adolescents are increasingly exposed to changing lifestyles that have a
negative impact on health. In developed countries, public awareness of the health hazards
of tobacco use has led to increased regulation of the tobacco industry, resulting in
restrictions on the advertising and availability of cigarettes and higher prices for them. As
a result, tobacco companies are aggressively seeking new markets in the developing
world. These markets are quite attractive because in most developing countries, there is
little legislation against the marketing and distribution of tobacco products and smoking
is still socially acceptable. The magnitude of risk that adolescent cigarette smoking
carries for adult smoking using a longitudinal, prospective design, results indicates that
even in frequent experimentation in adolescence significantly raises the risk for adult
experimentation to regular smoking. Relative risk did not significantly vary by age or
sex. The continuity of smoking behavior between adolescence and adulthood supports the
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Alcoholism
and is considered a disease with symptoms such as craving or feeling a strong urge to
drink; loss of control or not being able to stop once drinking has begun; physical
dependence such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety; and tolerance or drinking
greater amounts of alcohol to "get high”. Many people believe that drinking alcohol will
and may ease their problems regarding their family, work and the society, but in fact, it
would not. Acquiring alcoholism may lead to more serious complications and fatal
illnesses that would cause the person's life. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism, 2006).
Several think that alcoholism is a disease, and in fact, the National Institute on
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2006) is supporting this statement. The Institute explains
that the craving that an alcoholic feel for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or
water, and an alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal
problems. Moreover, like many other diseases, alcoholism is chronic, which means that it
lasts a person's lifetime, usually follows a predictable course, and has symptoms. The risk
for developing alcoholism is influenced by both the person's genes and by his or her
lifestyle.
It has been reported that alcoholism was first recognized as a disease in the 1930s
by a group called "Alcoholics Anonymous", and since then, the American Medical
Association has recognized alcoholism as a serious and chronic disease. Alcoholism takes
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time to develop, but once it develops, it does not go away. Cure is not available for
alcoholism, but is treatable, and with proper treatment, an alcoholic will be able to
reclaim his or her normal, satisfying lifestyle ('What is Chemical Dependency?', 2005).
since the first mead was brewed from fermented honey around 8000 BC (Meyer and
Quenzer, 2005). Nevertheless, although a number of studies have been carried out
considerations.
alcohol and about a quarter engage in abusive behavior at some point. Many users begin
alcohol use at young ages, and binge drinking is a dominant pattern for a proportion of
performance. A variety of mental and psychosocial problems are also often witnessed in
alcohol abusing youth. Apart from the influence exerted by genetic and psychosocial
consumption in a binge drinking manner and by first contact with alcohol at a young age.
from problematic use is still a challenging issue. Different prevention programs provide
treatment either directly to the adolescent, in the context of the school, or within the
frame of the adolescent's family. Although some of these efforts have been shown to be
effective in reducing alcohol misuse in youth, hardly any intervention reveals satisfactory
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It has been estimated that over three million teenagers are alcoholics, and several
million more have a serious drinking problem that they cannot manage on their own. This
damage on their lives. It has been mentioned earlier that alcoholism presents grave threats
on the lives of many individuals, especially on the lives of many teenagers. These threats
include accidents associated with drunk driving, and crimes. It has been reported that the
three leading causes of death for 15 to 24 year olds are automobile crashes, homicides
and suicides, and alcohol is a leading factor in all three. While drinking may be a singular
problem behavior for some, research suggests that for others if may be an expression of
general adolescent turmoil that includes other problem behaviors and that these behaviors
More often than not, adolescents become exposed to alcohol drinking through their peers.
With this, the role of the parents becomes crucial in the discipline of their children.
Proper guidance must be given to adolescents regarding drinking alcohol. Education also
is important, for information regarding alcoholism and drug abuse must be given to
Bien TH1, Burge R. (1990) believes that smoking and drinking share many
detrimental effects, some of which operate synergistically. Over 90% for alcoholic
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inpatients are smokers, with similar findings regarding outpatients. In the general
population, the relationship between smoking and drinking appears positive but modest.
Nicotine appears to facilitate ethanol consumption and vice versa. While sample
consumption, conclusive data supporting one or another of these views are lacking
drinking is without empirical basis. Research should ascertain whether problem drinkers
with greater positive association between alcohol and smoking benefit differentially from
quitting both.
According to Zacny JP. (1990), alcohol and tobacco consumption are correlated
consume more alcohol than do non-smokers and alcohol consumers smoke more than do
large majority of alcoholics, who by definition are heavy drinkers, smoke. A number of
the alcohol and tobacco association, including cross-tolerance between the two drugs, are
may have some relevance regarding the issue of relapse to either one of the drugs.
Finally, combined use of alcohol and tobacco presents greater risk of certain diseases
than the sum of the excess risks of alcohol and tobacco considered individually.
P a g e | 15
hypothesis postulates that individuals turn to smoking and alcoholism to alleviate their
symptoms and therefore suggests that symptoms of depression and anxiety may lead to
smoking. Users may also report that that cigarette and alcohol alleviate their symptoms
due to the misattribution of withdrawal relief. Given the short half – life of nicotine that
abstinence, users may misattribute the relief of short – term withdrawal as reflecting a
genuine anxiolytic effect of smoking and drinking. That is, withdrawal symptoms of
increased anxiety and negative affect may be misattributed as reflecting genuine mood
symptoms, which would lead to the impression that smoking improves mood.
According to the Oral Health Foundation, the majority of mouth cancer cases
continue to be a result of smoking and tobacco use. There are thousands of chemicals
contained in a single cigarette, and their point of entry is the mouth while drinking
alcohol to excess is another major risk factor linked with mouth cancer – associated with
Local Literature
From its conception, tobacco has been predominantly used by men. In early times,
women smoked less compared to men because of the norm that smoking in early men
In the Philippine Context, there is a general notion that cigarette smoking and
alcoholism are originally the vices of the male population and has long been viewed as an
P a g e | 16
activity associated with men. This result also supports the report of the World Health
Organization (WHO) that males tend to smoke and drink early than females. Recently,
however, female smoking and alcoholism caught the interest of health advocates due to the
Based on the 8th National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition
Research Institute (FNRI), smoking prevalence in the Philippines has gone down from
31% in 2008 to 25.4% in 2013; or specifically, from 53.2% in 2008 to 44.7% in 2013 in
exceeded the global average of 36% with smoking prevalence of 44.7% in 2013. The
same is also depicted for female smoking incidence at a higher rate of 7.8% against the
global average of 7%. Nonetheless, in spite of these larger than normal figures, smoking
Women and men have different psychological patterns that influence their
behavior. The same is evident in their motivation to smoke cigarettes. Men are found to
smoke when they are experiencing positive emotions while women smoke to contradict
any negative feelings they harbor. Men are also more prone to smoke in public places
Women are known to smoke to control weight, and to relieve stress, which may
come from different pressing factors such as the given related causes: strained family
Men too, start smoking with similar reasons in lesser frequencies. However, men
tend to be more independent on nicotine compared to women, which is most likely the
P a g e | 17
primary influencing factor on cigarette addiction for men. In addition, men use cigarettes
as social tool. Todd, et. at. (1996), have concluded that role socialization and smoking
have a complex relationship where there are cases that socialization is used a means to
RELATED STUDIES
Foreign Studies
According to Tarshis (2010), peer pressure can have a positive or negative effect
well as peers’ expectations and standards affect individual’s efforts and achievement in
school. For many secondary school students, achieving in school is in a direct conflict
with peer acceptance. If adolescents are friends to secondary school dropouts, they have
tendency to be absent from school, have lower grades and less positive attitudes towards
schools, they are less popular and less likely to plan to attend higher institutions. On the
other hand, high achieving peers have positive effects on adolescents’ satisfaction with
scores. Students who choose friends who have characteristics or talents that they admire,
motivates them to achieve and act as their friends’ act. Such kind of peers encourages
students to study hard at school and can also help them think more creatively.
adolescent’s cigarette smoking and alcohol use. Having the friends that smoke cigarettes
and drink alcohol or use other drugs influences such behaviors among adolescent. In
contrast, very few adolescents who report having nearly no friends who use such
P a g e | 18
substances have tried themselves. For example, Hoffman (2006) stated that the smoking
According to the study of Dr. Donald F. Wolle (2004) entitled “Smoking and
Alcoholism to Mortality Risk”, smoking and consuming alcohol are both related to
Numerous studies have shown the serious adverse effects of lifelong tobacco
smoking, with increased mortality rates from chronic heavy drinking. Regular light
drinking appears to have little effect on overall mortality and may be protective against
coronary heart disease. In reality, many people both drink and smoke. The neurochemical
and smoking together is strongly socially patterned, being normative behavior in pubs,
bars and clubs, worldwide until the recent introduction in some countries of smoking
restrictions in public places. Despite this, few studies have examined the combined
drug use (Eckhardt et al. 1994). In addition to more frequent use of illicit drugs, youth
who consistently smoke throughout adolescence are at significantly greater risk for
marijuana and other drug abuse or dependence (Vega and Gil 2005). Much of the
research in this area has focused on concurrent use of cigarettes and alcohol, which
predicts a variety of problems, both during adolescence and beyond. For example, it has
P a g e | 19
been found that youth who smoke and drink have an increased risk of having difficulties
Adolescents who report consistent smoking and drinking have higher rates of
deviant behavior and violence and are more likely to have legal and substance use
problems in their 20s than those who consistently drink but do not regularly smoke
(Orlando et al. 2005). The authors of the latter study noted, “...while it is common during
adolescence to drink but not smoke, it is very unusual to smoke and not drink” (Orlando
et al. 2005), suggesting that smoking is a reliable marker of adolescent alcohol use.
Alcohol and tobacco use both have important effects on cardiovascular risk
factors. Overall, the two generally do not affect the same risk factors in the same way,
although levels of blood pressure and triglycerides (i.e., fats in the blood) may be
important exceptions. The relationship between smoking and blood pressure is less clear,
in part because smokers ten to be learner than non-smokers. However, in some laboratory
studies and well-controlled population studies, smoking appeared to raise blood pressure
smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol and an equally substantial body of evidence has
demonstrated their synergy in causing cancer, birth defects, and other medical problems.
In contrast, there generally has been little evidence that they interact to influence
cardiovascular disease. Indeed, one recent review found only a single article that
identified a probable interaction between alcohol and tobacco on risk of heart disease
resulting from narrowing of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart (i.e.,
cardiovascular disease. First, dose matters. The relationship between smoking and risk of
cardiovascular disease is dose dependent ─ more tobacco leads to more disease. For
alcohol consumption, however, the issue is more complex. Most evidence suggest that
consumption in the range of 3 to 14 drinks per week is associated with lower risk of heart
attack (i.e., myocardial infarction) and possibly of other forms of cardiovascular disease,
such as blockage in an artery that supplies blood to the brain, resulting in a deficiency in
blood flow (i.e., ischemic stroke) or failure of the heart to pump blood sufficiently
set of causes or origins. Smoking is clearly linked to a higher risk of nearly all forms of
into the brain (i.e., hemorrhagic stroke), congestive heart failure, and narrowing of the
Third, even those type of cardiovascular disease directly linked to the gradual
build-up of fatty deposits (i.e., plaques) in the arteries, such as myocardial infarction and
stroke, represent acute events superimposed on the background process of the gradual
dynamic and involves cholesterol transport into and out of cells in the blood vessel wall,
the entry of inflammatory cells, and abnormal function of the cells lining the vessel
surface (i.e., endothelial cells). The final trigger in this pathway id often a blood clot that
forms at the site of plaque whose cap has raptured, exposing the blood to irritants within
the plaque. Tobacco and alcohol use may have chronic effects on several steps in the
P a g e | 21
gradual atherosclerosis process and more acute effects on the formation of blood clots
Fourth, and perhaps most difficult to address, is the nature of the relationship
between alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking and how it bears on our
nuisance parameter. That is, researchers recognize that smoking is common among
drinkers and that it is a strong risk factor for heart disease that could cloud the true effect
separately.
In summary, alcohol consumption and tobacco use have been associated with a
detrimental and (at least for moderate drinking) some potentially beneficial effects.
Alcohol intake of three or more drinks per day and cigarette smoking share similar, and
these adverse effects include increase in blood pressure and levels of triglycerides in the
blood and higher risks of stroke and congestive heart failure. On the other hand, there is
relatively little evidence that the two act synergistically or that the effects are worse when
smoking and drinking occur together than would be expected from their independent
effects. In most cases, more moderate drinking does not share these risks and even her
effects opposite those of cigarette smoking on HDL-C and blood clotting. Nonetheless,
because alcohol and tobacco are used together and in excess so commonly, their joint
P a g e | 22
effects are encountered widely throughout the U.S population. Ongoing public health
efforts to minimize tobacco use and harmful drinking should result in clear and important
Adolescent Alcoholism Abuse and Dependence”, most adolescents under the legal
drinking age consume alcohol. For many of them, their drinking patterns evolve into
alcohol abuse and dependence. Treatment of these adolescents must take into
treatment approaches may be needed for adolescents than for adults. Alcohol abuse and
alcohol dependence are not only adult problems. They also affect a significant portion of
adolescents between the ages of 12 to 18, even though the purchase and public use of
alcohol are illegal for them. Diagnosis and treatment of these disorders are important
future. Early alcohol abuse can lead to social, family, and developmental problems. Other
potential negative consequences include accidents (e.g., motor vehicle crashes, falls, and
drowning), aggressive behavior, and suicide (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcohol use also is associated with other risk-taking behaviors, such as smoking,
delinquency, use of illicit drugs, and precarious sexual behavior (Donovan and Jessor,
According to the study of Zeena Harakeh & Wilma A.M Vollebergh (2012)
entitled “The Impact of Active and Passive Peer Pressure On Young Adult Smoking: An
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Experimental Study”, peers influence adolescent and young adult smoking, but little is
(pressure) peer influence affects young adult smoking. A widely held assumption is that
young people engage in smoking and other risk behaviors (e.g., alcohol or cannabis use)
because their peers pressure them to do so. This assumption taps into one of the
frequently applied theoretical models of peer influence, implying an active, explicit form
prevention program focus on countering peer pressure by teaching young people refusal
and resistance skills. Nevertheless, susceptibility to peer pressure in young people is not
limited to adolescents but also includes young adults (see also review of Borasi and
Carey, 2001). So far, the findings of survey studies, focusing on this active peer
influence, show inconsistent findings (Perrine and Aloise-young, 2004, Slater, 2003,
Urberg et al., 1990) and experimental studies are reliable (Arnett, 2007, Michell and
West, 1996). Thus, we still know little about the effects of peer pressure on adolescent
and young adult smoking. An important question that needs to be addressed is whether
This study is the first to show the importance of passive (imitation) peer influence
over and above the impact of active (pressure) peer influence on young adult smoking in
an experimental design. In our study, peer smoking increased significantly young adults’
P a g e | 24
likelihood to smoke more cigarettes while peer pressure did not. In the literature, peer
smoking is suggested to tap into the passive peer influence, and the underlying
imitation. Students confronted with smoking peers are more likely to smoke regardless of
being offered a cigarette or not: seeing is doing. Several theoretical models may explain
Figure 1.The Independent and Dependent Variables show the presumed cause of another
Figure 2.The Paradigm of the study shows the relationship of the input, process and
The above paradigm shows the effects of Peer Pressure, Cigarette Smoking and
interview. Peer Pressure, Cigarette smoking and alcoholism serve as the input and the
significant relationship of peer pressure, cigarette smoking and alcoholism and their
impact to adolescents serve as the output of the study. This can be determined by the
Chapter 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter presents the research design, sample and locale of the study, data
Research Design
This study uses Descriptive Statistics and Spearman Rank – Order Coefficient of
Correlation (𝑟𝑠) method to analyze the effects of peer pressure among adolescents in
Descriptive Statistics are brief descriptive coefficients that summarize a given set
of data, which can be either a representation of the entire population or a sample of it.
Also, this method will be used to find out the extent of influence of peer pressure
studies report summary data such as percentage that will be a big factor in getting the
appropriate for dealing with data that are measured on an ordinal scale, that is, the
determining the strength of relationship between two variables because it is not necessary
Also this method will be used to find out the significant relationship between peer
pressure and the possible reasons why adolescents still continue on cigarette smoking and
alcoholism.
With this being said, this makes Descriptive Statistics and Spearman Rank –
Order Coefficient of Correlation method appropriate for obtaining the percentage and
average weighted mean of the peer pressure, its extent of influence to cigarette smoking
and alcoholism and the significant relationship between peer pressure and the possible
The researchers decided to use this method for it is seemingly fitted for the study
to achieve the needed results. The results collected and the information gathered will be
respondents of this study were the adolescents ages 13 – 19 who are into cigarette
The questionnaires used by the researchers are divided into five parts. The
first part of the questionnaire was designed to elicit data on the profile of the respondents
in terms of a) age b) gender and c) address. The second part of the questionnaire was
relation to cigarette smoking and alcoholism. The third part of the questionnaire was
designed to determine the list of possible health effects that might occur as the
respondents continue on cigarette smoking and alcoholism. This part will be used to
determine the highest or most common health effects they observe physically and
emotionally. The fourth part of the questionnaire was designed to determine the possible
reasons why teenagers still continue on cigarette smoking and alcoholism. The fifth part
of the questionnaire was designed to find out the significant relationship between peer
pressure and the possible reasons why adolescents still continue on cigarette smoking and
alcoholism.
The general instruction of the questionnaire was, “Please put a check mark (/) on
the column that corresponds to your answer. Note that there are no right or wrong
responses to any of the items in this survey. Please answer truthfully and rest assured that
To gather the data that will be recorded in this study with the guidance of the
researchers’ instructor, Mrs. Milith Miano, the researchers designed a project proposal
and they will then construct a letter addressing the respondents and barangay captain of
the selected barangays to allow the researchers to conduct a survey and face-to-face
The problem number 1 of the study which states the demographic profile of the
each response choice for a question and percentages for each question, the percentage
𝒇
𝑷= × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒏
Whereas:
P = Percentage
f = frequency
The problem number 2 of this study seeks the extent of influence of peer pressure
among adolescents in relation to cigarette smoking and alcoholism, the problem number
3 which seeks to determine the possible health effects of cigarette smoking and
alcoholism among adolescents and the problem number 4 which seeks to determine the
possible reasons why teenagers still continue on cigarette smoking and alcoholism will all
∑𝒏𝒊=𝟏(𝑿𝒊𝑾𝒊)
𝑨𝑾𝑴 =
∑𝒏𝒊=𝟏 𝑾𝒊
Whereas:
= the sum of
W= the weights
X= the value
In problem 2, the following scale will be used to interpret the obtained Weighted
Mean:
In problem 3, the following scale will be used to interpret the obtained Weighted
Mean:
In problem 4, the following scale will be used to interpret the obtained Weighted
Mean:
The problem number 5 which seeks the significant relationship between peer
pressure and the possible reasons why adolescents still continue on cigarette smoking and
(𝒓𝒔 ) method:
𝟔 ∑ 𝑫𝟐
𝒓𝒔 = 𝟏 −
𝒏𝟑 −𝒏
Whereas:
Chapter 4
This chapter presents the data gathered that answered the problems of the study.
The data were predominantly presented in tabular forms and analyzed and interpreted
using appropriate descriptive statistics like frequency counts, percentages and average
weighted mean and the Spearman Rank – Order Coefficient of Correlation (𝒓𝒔 ) method.
One of the specific concerns of the study is to determine the profile of the
adolescents who are into cigarette smoking and alcoholism in Urdaneta City particularly in
barangays Dilan – Paurido, Bayaoas and San Jose. The data gathered are presented in
Table 1.
Table 1
Profile of the Respondents
Profile Frequency Percent
Age
13 4 4%
14 7 7%
15 13 13%
16 25 25%
17 17 17%
18 16 16%
19 18 18%
Gender
Male 76 76%
Female 24 24%
Address
Barangay Poblacion I 50 50%
Sitio Maligaya Barangay 50 50%
Pagsawitan
Age. A total of 100 respondents were chosen randomly in selected barangays of
Urdaneta City particularly in barangays Bayaoas, Dilan – Paurido and San Jose. As could
be seen from the data in Table 1, 4 or 4% of the 100 respondents are 13 years old. It
could be seen from the table that this age has the least respondents from the two
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barangays, 7 or 7 % are 14 years old, 13 or 13% are 15 years old, 25 or 25% are 16 years
old. It could be seen from the table that majority of the respondents are 16 years old, 17
or 17% are 17 years old, 16 or 16% are 18 years old and 18 or 18% are 19 years old.
The results above also support the 2007 Global Youth Tobacco Survey which states
that 39.5% of adolescents aged 13 – 16 had ever smoked cigarettes and 17.5% currently
smoked.
Gender. 76 or 76% of the 100 respondents from barangay Poblacion I and Sitio
Maligaya barangay Pagsawitan Santa Cruz, Laguna are male. It could be seen from the
table that the majority of the adolescents who are cigarette smokers and alcohol users are
males while 24 or 24% of the 100 respondents from barangay Pobalcion I and Sitio
Results show the general notion that cigarette smoking and alcoholism are
originally the vices of the male population and has long been viewed as an activity
associated with men, at least in the Philippine context. This result also supports the report
of the World Health Organization (WHO) that males tend to smoke and drink early than
females. Recently, however, female smoking and alcoholism caught the interest of health
Address. 50 or 50% of our respondents are from barangay Poblacion I Santa Cruz,
Laguna and 50 or 50% are from Sitio Maligaya barangay Pagsawitan Santa Cruz, Laguna.
In total, 100 or 100% respondents are randomly chosen by the researchers to be surveyed
pressure among adolescents in relation to cigarette smoking and alcoholism. The data are
presented in table 2.
Table 2
It could be seen from the table with 3.67 average weighted mean that adolescents
easily fall from simple gestures from their friends like being offered a drink, being bought
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a drink, or having their drink refilled without asking. Results show that adolescents
Santa Cruz, Laguna particularly in barangay Poblacion I and in Sitio Maligaya barangay
Pagsawitan are ‘sometimes’ influenced by their peers to engage in cigarette smoking and
The results above support the study of Zeena Harakeh & Wilma A.M Vollebergh
(2012) entitled “The Impact of Active and Passive Peer Pressure On Young Adult
Smoking”, they examined whether passive (imitation) and/or active (pressure) peer
influence affects young adult smoking. A widely held assumption is that young people
engage in smoking and other risk behaviors (e.g., alcohol or cannabis use) because their
cigarette smoking and alcoholism among adolescents. The data are presented in table 3.
Table 3
cigarette smoking and alcoholism among adolescents are rated ‘somewhat aware’ with
an overall weighted mean of 2.150. This means that the adolescents are not informed as
to what disease or health effects they might encounter in the short or long run. The item
number 8 which states“I’m getting a higher risk of certain types of cancer particularly
those of the mouth and throat”was the lowest among all the items in terms of the average
weighted mean with 1.79 which revealed that adolescents are not at all aware that they
are getting a higher risk of certain types of cancer particularly those of the mouth and
throat.
According to the Oral Health Foundation (2014), the majority of mouth cancer
cases continue to be a result of smoking and tobacco use. There are thousands of
P a g e | 37
chemicals contained in a single cigarette, and their point of entry is the mouth while
drinking alcohol to excess is another major risk factor linked with mouth cancer –
The item number 10 which states “I’m aware that cigarette smoking and
alcoholism increase blood pressure and heart rate”was the highest among all the items
in terms of the average weighted mean with 2.60 which revealed that among the
possible health effects listed above, increase blood pressure and heart rate are the health
cardiovascular disease is dose dependent ─ more tobacco leads to more disease. For
alcohol consumption, however, the issue is more complex. Most evidence suggest that
consumption in the range of 3 to 14 drinks per week is associated with lower risk of heart
attack such that myocardial infarction and possibly of other forms of cardiovascular
disease, such as blockage in an artery that supplies blood to the brain, resulting in a
deficiency in blood flow such that ischemic stroke or failure of the heart to pump blood
set of causes or origins. Smoking is clearly linked to a higher risk of nearly all forms of
into the brain such that hemorrhagic stroke, congestive heart failure, and narrowing of the
adolescents still continue on cigarette smoking and alcoholism. The data are presented in
table 4.
Table 4
It is indicated that the items listed above were perceived as fair. It was justified
by the computed overall weighted mean of 2.659. Apparently, adolescents are in between
the decision to agree or to disagree on the items listed above in terms of the possible
Specifically, it could be seen from the table that the item number 5 which states
that “It alleviates my feeling of depression” was the highest among all the items in terms
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of the average weighted mean with 2.96 which revealed that they engage in cigarette
hypothesis postulates that individuals turn to smoking and alcoholism to alleviate their
symptoms and therefore suggests that symptoms of depression and anxiety may lead to
smoking. Users may also report that that cigarette and alcohol alleviate their symptoms
due to the misattribution of withdrawal relief. Given the short half – life of nicotine that
abstinence, users may misattribute the relief of short – term withdrawal as reflecting a
genuine anxiolytic effect of smoking and drinking. That is, withdrawal symptoms of
increased anxiety and negative affect may be misattributed as reflecting genuine mood
symptoms, which would lead to the impression that smoking improves mood.
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pressure and the possible reasons why adolescents still continue on cigarette smoking and
Table 5
The Significant Relationship Between Pressure and the Possible Reasons Why
6 ∑ 𝐷2
𝑟𝑠 = 1 −
𝑛3 −𝑛
𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒃=𝟏.𝟗𝟖𝟒
6(52351.25) 𝑛−2
𝑟𝑠 = 1 − 𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝 = 𝑟𝑠√1−𝑟𝑠2
(100)3 −100
314107.5 100−2
𝑟𝑠 = 1 − 𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝 = 0.69√1−(0.69)2
1000000−100
98
𝑟𝑠 = 1 − 0.314138913191 𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝 = 0.69√0.5239
𝒓𝒔 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟗 𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝 = 0.69√187.058599
df = n – 2 𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝 0.69(13.67693675)
df =98; 𝛼 = 0.05
Table 5 presents the summary of the significant relationship between pressure and
the possible reasons why adolescents still continue on cigarette smoking and alcoholism.
It could be seen from the table that the computed 𝒕𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑 of 9.440 is greater than the 𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒃
of 1.984 at 0.05 level of significance with 98 degrees of freedom. Thus, the alternative
hypothesis is accepted which states that there is a significant relationship between peer
pressure and possible reasons why adolescents still continue on cigarette smoking and
alcoholism.
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Chapter 5
SUMMARY
The Problem
This research study determines the effects of peer pressure among adolescents in
relation to cigarette smoking and alcoholism in selected barangays of Santa Cruz, Laguna
a. Age
b. Gender
c. Address
III. What are the possible health effects of cigarette smoking and alcoholism
among adolescents?
IV. What are the possible reasons why adolescents still continue on cigarette
alcoholism?
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Research Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis
1. There is no significant relationship between peer pressure and the possible reasons
Alternative Hypothesis
1. There is a significant relationship between peer pressure and the two vices which are
Methodology
This study used Descriptive Statistics and Spearman Rank – Order Coefficient of
Correlation (𝑟𝑠) method to analyze the effects of peer pressure among adolescents in
Descriptive Statistics are brief descriptive coefficients that summarize a given set
of data, which can be either a representation of the entire population or a sample of it.
Also, this method was used to find out the extent of influence of peer pressure
studies report summary data such as percentage that will be a big factor in getting the
appropriate for dealing with data that are measured on an ordinal scale, that is, the
determining the strength of relationship between two variables because it is not necessary
Also this method was used to find out the significant relationship between peer
pressure and the possible reasons why adolescents still continue on cigarette smoking and
alcoholism.
Findings
On the profile of the respondents in terms of age, a total of 100 respondents were
Poblacion I and in Sitio Maligaya barangay Pagsawitan. 4 (4%) of the 100 respondents
are 13 years old, this age has the least respondents from the three barangays, 7 (7 %) are
14 years old, 13 (13%) are 15 years old, 25 (25%) are 16 years’ old, this age has the
majority of the respondents from the three barangays, 17 (17%) are 17 years old, 16
respondents from barangay Poblacion I and Sitio Maligaya barangay Pagsawitan are male.
Majority of the adolescents who are cigarette smokers and alcohol users are male while 24
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(24%) of the 100 respondents from barangay Pobacion I and Sitio Maligaya barangay
among the two barangays are from barangay Pobalcion I Santa Cruz, Laguna while 50
cigarette smoking and alcoholism, it was found out that adolescents in selected barangays
In terms of the possible health effects of cigarette smoking and alcoholism among
adolescents, it was found out that adolescents in selected barangays of Santa Cruz,
are somewhat aware with an overall weighted mean of 2.150 of the possible health
effects that might occur in the short or long run as they continue on cigarette smoking and
alcoholism.
On the possible reasons why adolescents still continue on cigarette smoking and
alcoholism, the study revealed that among all items listed, “It alleviates my feeling of
depression” was the foremost reason why adolescents are involved in cigarette smoking
disagree on the items listed in terms of the possible reasons why adolescents still continue
on cigarette smoking and alcoholism. The results were perceived as fair It was justified
The correlation between pressure and the possible reasons why adolescents still
continue on cigarette smoking and alcoholism were found to be correlated. It means that
peer pressure was successful to correlate with possible reasons why adolescents still
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions are arrived at:
Cigarette smoking and alcoholism typically occur among adolescents age 16 years
old while the minority of the cigarette smokers and alcohol users are 13 years old. In
terms of gender, more than the half of the respondents who engage in cigarette smoking
and alcoholism are males compared to the female respondents. In terms of address, the
respondents are from barangay Poblacion I and from Sitio Maligaya barangay Pagsawitan
smoking and alcoholism, it was found out that adolescents in selected barangays of Santa
Pagsawitan are sometimes influenced by their peers to engage in cigarette smoking and
alcoholism.
Furthermore, the results show that the major possible health effects of cigarette
smoking and alcoholism are the increase of blood pressure and heart rate while the major
possible reason why adolescents still continue on cigarette smoking and alcoholism
regardless of the possible health effects that might occur in the short or long run is the
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and disagree. This further denotes that the identified possible reasons may or may not be
true.
The correlation between peer pressure and the possible reasons why adolescents still
continue on cigarette smoking and alcoholism were found out to be correlated. This
implies that peer pressure is a major predictor of cigarette smoking and alcoholism
RECOMMENDATIONS
competencies that allow them to resist peer pressure to become involve with behavior
that puts their health and well-being at risk. Measures should be developed at school,
home, and in the community, the success of which depends on the involvement of peers
Adolescents should become aware on the possible health effects that might occur
as they continue on cigarette smoking and alcoholism. They should likewise be aware on
the effects of peer pressure and the act of choosing the acceptable peer groups to engage
with.
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On the part of the parents of the adolescents, they should provide for the suitable
parenting styles like involving in their teenager’s life, knowing who their friends are and
encourage independence but set appropriate limits, teaching the science of cigarette and
alcohol and help find alternative activity options for their children. They should
continuously and regularly monitor their children to show their affection towards their
children that may help them to reflect what are their peers’ behavior effects.
Pagsawitan Santa Cruz, Laguna must strictly enforce the rules and regulations with
regards to the proper use of cigarette and alcohol. They should raise awareness and
should give appropriate measures to help both adolescents and their parents so that the