<![CDATA[Critical thinking is one of the essential competencies needed by students in facing the challenges of the 21st century. However, the development of critical thinking skills is influenced by various factors, including peer relationships and parental support. This study aimed to determine the influence of peers and parents on the critical thinking skills of students in the Guidance and Counseling Study Program at Universitas Jambi. The study employed a quantitative approach with an ex post facto research design. The population consisted of 223 students from the 2022 and 2023 cohorts, while 143 respondents were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis. The results revealed that peers and parents had a positive and significant influence on students’ critical thinking skills, both partially and simultaneously. The partial test showed that peers significantly affected critical thinking skills (t = 6.387; p < 0.05), while parents also had a significant effect (t = 5.689; p < 0.05). Furthermore, the simultaneous test indicated that peers and parents jointly influenced critical thinking skills (F = 64.296; p < 0.05). The coefficient of determination (R²) was 0.479, indicating that 47.9% of the variance in critical thinking skills could be explained by peer and parental factors, while the remaining 52.1% was influenced by other variables. Therefore, peers and parents play a crucial role in fostering students’ critical thinking skills.]]>
