The Influence of Peer Pressure on Drinking in Indian Youth: A Mixed-Methods Study

The youth period is considered to be the most vital stages of development during an individual’s lifetime and is a period wherein one is more prone to engage in behaviours that have a lasting and negative impact on their health. Keeping this in mind, it is important to gain a better understanding of these problematic behaviours and their causes in order to develop better interventions. The present study aims to investigate one such problem that is gaining major research traction among youth- alcohol-related behaviours, with emphasis on the role of peer pressure and self-efficacy. This mixed-methods study explores the role of peer pressure on drinking behaviours in Indian youth between the ages of 15-24 years, as well as the function of their self-efficacy or regulatory beliefs to resist peer pressure when it comes to drinking.