Peer Pressure Inventory
B. Bradford Brown Donna Rae Clasen
Univ of WIMadison Univ of WIWhitewater
Here are some PAIRS of STATEMENTS describing PEER PRESSURE which is when your friends
encourage you to do something or to not do something else. For each pair, READ both statements and
decide whether friends mostly encourage you to do the one on the LEFT or the one on the RIGHT.
Then, MARK AN “X” in one of the boxes on the side toward the statement you choose, depending on
HOW MUCH your friends encourage you to do that (“A Little,” “Somewhat” or “A Lot”). If you
think there’s no pressure from friends to do either statement, mark the middle (“No Pressure”) box.
Remember, mark just ONE “X” for each pair of statements.
SOMEWHAT
SOMEWHAT
PRESSURE
HOW STRONG is the
LITTLE
LITTLE
pressure from your FRIENDS Or to: .........
LOT
LOT
NO
to: . . . .
Study hard, do your NOT study or do homework
3 2 1 S38 1 2 3
homework, etc.
Take DIFFERENT classes than Take the SAME classes
3 2 1 C23 1 2 3
your friends take that your friends take
Smoke marijuana 3 2 1 M59 1 2 3 NOT smoke marijuana
Be social, do things with NOT be social, do
3 2 1 P39 1 2 3
other people things by yourself
NOT try to be “tough,” Try to be “tough,”
3 2 1 M42 1 2 3
stay out of fights, etc. pick fights, etc.
Be part of any “crowd” at Try to get into certain
3 2 1 1 2 3
school that you want to “crowds” and not others
Try to do what your Go against your parents’
3 2 1 F52 1 2 3
parents want you to do wishes
Have a steady boyfriend or NOT just go out with
3 2 1 1 2 3
girlfriend (opposite sex) one guy or girl
Drink beer or liquor NOT drink beer or liquor
3 2 1 M65 1 2 3
NOT do many things with DO lots of things with
your family 3 2 1 F41 1 2 3 your family
NOT go to school dances Go to school dances or
3 2 1 P21 1 2 3
or mixers mixers
Be part of one (or more) NOT be part of any of
3 2 1 C35 1 2 3
of the “crowds” at school the “crowds” at school
NOT have a parttime job Have a parttime job
3 2 1 1 2 3
Get home by the time your Stay out past the curfew
3 2 1 F47 1 2 3
parents say you should be time your parents set
SOMEWHAT
SOMEWHAT
PRESSURE
HOW STRONG is the
LITTLE
LITTLE
pressure from your FRIENDS Or to: .........
LOT
LOT
to: . . . .
NO
Excel, be really good at
NOT be better than any of
something (sports, grades, 3 2 1 1 2 3
your friends at something
slamming beers, whatever)
NOT go to parties 3 2 1 P53 1 2 3 Go to parties
Take accelerated (advanced NOT take accelerated
3 2 1 S35 1 2 3
level) classes (advanced level) classes
Try NOT to be friends with Try to be friends with
3 2 1 C30 1 2 3
the popular kids the “popular” kids
Wear the SAME types of Wear styles of clothes
clothes your friends wear 3 2 1 C36 1 2 3 DIFFERENT than your friends
“Make out” (kissing or NOT “make out” (kissing or
petting) 3 2 1 1 2 3 petting)
Smoke cigarettes NOT smoke cigarettes
3 2 1 M59 1 2 3
Try to look or act older Try to look or act your
than you are 3 2 1 1 2 3 own age
Finish high school 3 2 1 S39 1 2 3 Drop out of school
Be in religious activities (church, NOT get involved with
3 2 1 1 2 3
Young Life, etc.) religious activities
Talk or act DIFFERENTLY Talk or act the SAME
3 2 1 C41 1 2 3
than your friends do way your friends do
Spend your free time alone Spend your free time
3 2 1 P34 1 2 3
or with your family with your friends
Get drunk or get “a buzz” NOT get drunk
3 2 1 M71 1 2 3
NOT shoplift or steal Steal something (shoplift,
3 2 1 M50 1 2 3
anything raid a locker, etc.)
Not to be TOO much of a
Be as smart as you can be
“brain” 3 2 1 S32 1 2 3
Go out with boys/girls NOT go out with boys/
(opposite sex) 3 2 1 P52 1 2 3 girls (opposite sex)
Be liked by teachers 3 2 1 S46 1 2 3 NOT be liked by teachers
Wear your hair (or makeup) Wear your hair (or make
3 2 1 C43 1 2 3
DIFFERENT than your friends’ up) like your friends do
Go out for a sports team 3 2 1 1 2 3 NOT go out for sports
Get beer or liquor before NOT get beer or liquor
you’re 18 3 2 1 M67 1 2 3 until you’re 18
SOMEWHAT
SOMEWHAT
PRESSURE
HOW STRONG is the
LITTLE
LITTLE
pressure from your FRIENDS Or to: .........
LOT
LOT
to: . . . .
NO
Go out only with someone
NOT ask your friends who
3 2 1 C17 1 2 3 your friends say is okay
you should go out with
to date
Talk back or “smart off”
Show respect for adults
to adults 3 2 1 F53 1 2 3
Go to the games at school
3 2 1 P26 1 2 3 NOT go to school games
(football, basketball, etc.)
NOT cut classes or skip Cut classes or skip
3 2 1 S44 1 2 3
school school
3 2 1 P31 1 2 3 Go to concerts
NOT go to concerts
Ignore what your parents Do what your parents
tell you to do 3 2 1 F62 1 2 3 tell you to do
Have the SAME opinion about
Have DIFFERENT opinions
things as your friends do
3 2 1 C33 1 2 3 than your friends do
Try to get good grades 3 2 1 S59 1 2 3 NOT try for good grades
“Trash” or vandalize
NOT “trash” things or vandalize
3 2 1 M51 1 2 3 things (write on walls,
property
break windows, etc.)
Try to be thin 3 2 1 1 2 3 Try to be fat
NOT let your parents know Tell your parents where
where you go, what you do 3 2 1 F50 1 2 3 you go and what you do
Listen to the music, groups Listen to music and groups
3 2 1 C36 1 2 3
your friends think are good that no one else likes
NOT go “all the way” (not Have sexual intercourse
3 2 1 M52 1 2 3
have sexual intercourse) (go “all the way”)
Get along well with your
3 2 1 F53 1 2 3 “Hassle” your parents
parents
P47
“Party” (be rowdy) NOT “party” (not be rowdy)
3 2 1 M52 1 2 3
Go out with friends on
3 2 1 P61 1 2 3 Stay home on weekends
weekends
NOT do any hard drugs 3 2 1 M55 1 2 3 Do hard drugs
Do things to impress mem Try NOT to impress members
bers of the opposite sex 3 2 1 P46 1 2 3 of the opposite sex
Give teachers a hard time Be nice to teachers
3 2 1 S42 1 2 3
SCORING:
Each item is scored from 3 to +3, with the «No Pressure» option scored as zero. Subscale scores are
derived by taking the mean of item scores.
In the 'No Pressure' box above, in place of the zero score is a letter indicating the subscale with which
the item is associated, and a figure indicating the corrected itemtoscale correlation. Items with
nothing in this box are not associated with any of the 5 subscales. C = peer conformity; F = family
involvement; P = peer involvement; S = school involvement; M = misconduct.
