Gender discrimination, peer pressure and social media as a correlate of adolescent mental health in Ibadan North local government

The significance of adolescent mental health stems from its pivotal role in shaping the adjustment process during this developmental stage. Thus, this study investigated the correlations between the independent variables (Gender discrimination, family background, peer pressure, and social media) and dependent variable adolescent mental health). The study adopted descriptive survey design of correlational type. A sample of three hundred in-school adolescents were randomly sampled in Ibadan North. Data was collected using reliable instruments (Adolescent mental health scale α =0.89, Gender discrimination Scale α =0.79, peer pressure α =0.79, and social media α =0.75).  Three research questions were raised and tested at 0.05 level of significance using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis. there was positive significant relationships between Gender Discrimination (r = .165; p<0.05), social media (r = .188; p<0.05) and Mental health. Also, there was negative significant relationship between Peer pressure(r = -.080; and adolescent mental health. From the regression analysis it was discovered that Gender discrimination, peer pressure, and social media jointly predicted adolescent mental health. This suggests that the three factors or Variables combined accounted for 55% (Adj.R2 = 0.41)) variance in the prediction of adolescent mental health. From relative contributions, Gender discrimination was found to be the strongest predictor followed social media and peer pressure in that order. Among others it was recommended that the influence of the gender discrimination and social media need to be given priority attention, the social media could be made to provide filtered and strict messages that protect adolescent mental health.