Relationship Between Peer Popularity and Self-Esteem Among Young Pregnant Out of Wedlock

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between peers popularity and self-esteem within the attitude towards sexual behaviour among young pregnant out of wedlock. A total of 130 teenagers pregnant out of wedlock aged between 14 years and 19 years from 4 welfare institutions in the states of Selangor, Perak, Johor and Kelantan participated in this research. Respondents were selected using stratified random sampling technique. This study utilises the three questionnaires of the Inventory Peer Pressure, Popularity, and Conformity Scale (Santor, Messervey & Kusumakar, 2000), the Rosenberg Self- Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965) and Brief Sexual Attitudes Scale (Hendrick & Reich, 2006). All instruments used had yielded a Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient value ranging from 0.82 to 0.90. Findings revealed that the level of peers popularity is high, level of self esteem also high and respondents indicated a high level of attitude sexual behavior. Results of Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed that there were significant relationships between peers popularity and attitudes toward sexual behavior (r= .801, p