Perceived Mattering, Resistance to Peer Influence, and Personal Growth Initiative Among Older Adolescents in Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33897/fujp.v10i2.975Keywords:
Adolescence, Identity Development, Youth, Peer Influence, Personal Growth Initiative, MatteringAbstract
Background. This study examined the relationships among perceived mattering, resistance to peer influence, and personal growth initiative (PGI) among older adolescents in Pakistan.
Method. A sample of 472 adolescents aged 16 to 20 years (249 males, 223 females) completed the Personal Growth Initiative Scale–II (PGIS-II; Robitschek et al., 2012), the Mattering to Others Questionnaire (MTOQ; Marshall, 2001), and the Resistance to Peer Influence Scale (RPI; Steinberg & Monahan, 2007). Data were collected using an online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results. Correlation analyses revealed that perceived mattering was positively and significantly associated with PGI, while resistance to peer influence was positively but non-significantly related to PGI. Further, regression analyses indicated that perceived mattering significantly predicted PGI, although the proportion of variance explained was modest. Subgroup analyses comparing adolescents with higher and lower levels of peer resistance showed consistent results, suggesting that the sense of being valued by others contributes to adolescents’ motivation for self-directed growth, regardless of their susceptibility to peer pressure.
Conclusion. These findings emphasize the developmental relevance of social belonging and self-determination in adolescent identity formation. The study also highlights the value of examining adolescent development in underrepresented cultural contexts. Implications for intervention programs and identity development models are discussed, along with study limitations and directions for future research.
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