Who Decides? What Matters? Scottish Adolescents' Perceptions of the Importance and Influence of Media Personalities,Parents and Peers

Abstract

To provide an up-to-date description of Scottish adolescents' perceptions of influences on them, a questionnaire-based survey of 427 Secondary Year 2 pupils (13–14 year-old), spread across the country, was carried out in 2002. The results of this survey suggest that these adolescents perceive themselves to be quite autonomous and encouraged to be so by most adults. By contrast, few felt that they had much say in rule-making, beyond the context of the family. Around 90% agreed that parents, friends and teachers were influential, whereas only around 50% agreed that media personalities were an influence.