Groups of peers playing in a social environment for adolescents (students) have an important role in the development of their personality. This role has become increasingly important, especially at the time of changes in the structure of society in recent decades, namely (1) changes in family structure, from large families to small families, (2) gaps between the older and younger generations, (3) network expansion. communication among young people, and (4) the length of time or delay in entering adult society (Sarmin, 2017). Some teenagers seem to have good self-confidence so that they are able to reduce life’s problems without excessive anxiety. Lack of self-confidence will cause a person to be unable to solve complex problems which can lead to frustration. In the face of emotional discomfort, not a few teenagers take defensive actions, namely violence that is carried out as a protective measure aimed at protecting their weaknesses. These conditions can cause anger and emotions that can trigger the teenager to show maladjustment behavior, namely aggressive behavior (Yusuf, 2008). So that a strong role in peer relations is important in the lives of adolescents. The main focus of peer relations is how a person can be accepted in a friendship with friends who have the same fate, background or age. A close peer relationship can occur. Even this relationship can provide comfort and trust between peers.

Research on peer counselor group assistance carried out with training and guidance methods to monitor counselor groups formed in schools shows the results that the formation of counselor groups by schools can help deal with various adolescent problems both in the field of study and relationships between adolescents (Shohib, 2016 ). It can also minimize the emergence of juvenile delinquency behavior. This is in line with the research of Harini, et al, (2014) which states that there is a significant effect of peer counselor training on knowledge, attitudes, and skills.

Peer counseling allows students to have the skills to implement meaningful experiences of independence and self-control for adolescents. In particular, peer counseling does not focus on content evaluation, but focuses more on thinking processes, feeling processes, and decision-making processes (Wahid, 2013: 7). Peer counselor is an assistance that is done by someone to other people who in this context are the same age or peers in order to help individuals understand, accept, direct, actualize themselves, become bridges and good listeners.

The idea of ​​peer counselors has been implemented in various institutions such as schools, universities, and the Information and Counseling Center for Youth/Students (PIK R/M) which is under the auspices of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN). The effectiveness of the idea has been recognized. It is proven by the results of Maryatun’s research (2011:739) about the process of applying peer counselors through PIK R/M. The results of the study stated that of the 20 PIK R/M groups, 16 groups had empowered peer counselors with a good impact on the development and positive changes in student behavior from the previous tendency to behave negatively. With the existence of peer counselors, this can certainly make a teenager more educated and transfer of learning so that these teenagers can become individuals who understand more about themselves and can handle their problems well.

References:

Astiti. (2019). Efektivitas Konseling Sebaya (Peer Counseling) dalam Menuntaskan Masalah Siswa. Indonesian Journal of Islamic Psychology, 1 (2):243-246 diakses pada 11 Agustus 2022.

Hidayati, dkk. (2017). Pembentukan Konselor Teman Sebaya Dalam Upaya Preventif Perilaku Kekerasan Pada Remaja Di Smp Negeri 1 Pangandaran. Jurnal Aplikasi Ipteks untuk Masyarakat, 6 (2):125-128 diakses tanggal 10 Agustus 2022.

Maryatun, Wahyuni. (2011). Metode Clinic-Based dan Community Empowerment pada Pemberdayaan Pendidik dan Konselor Sebaya dalam Program Kesehatan Reproduksi Remaja di Kabupaten Sukoharjo. Gaster: Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan, (Online), 8 (2): 731-740, (http://www.jurnal.stikesaisyiyah.ac.id/index.php/gaster/article/view/24), diakses tanggal 10 Agustus 2022.

Sarmin. (2017). Konselor Sebaya: Pemberdayaan Teman Sebaya Dalam Sekolah Guna Menanggulangi Pengaruh Negatif Lingkungan. Jurnal Riset dan Konseptual 2 (1): 102-112.