Teenage Peer Pressure – Wanting to Fit In

Peer pressure is not isolated to one age group, everyone should belong to or feel connected to their own age group. Children and adults are associated with peer pressure. Teenagers, like adults, are influenced by their peer group. This is normal behavior and is modeled for adolescents by the adults around them. As adults, we are familiar with the expression “keeping up with the Joneses,” a sense of wanting to fit in. Adults conform to the social norms set by their peers, and teens watch the adults who influence their lives very carefully.

Teenage peer pressure is more than just a phase that young people go through. Whether it leads to extreme hair and clothing, tattoos or body piercing, peer pressure is a powerful reality and many adults are unaware of its effects. It can be a negative force in the lives of children and adolescents, often causing them to experiment with tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs.

Teenagers want to be with people their own age. Children, especially during their teens, begin to spend a lot more time with their friends and less time with their family. This makes them more susceptible to peer influences. It is important to remember that teenage friends can have a positive influence on a young person. During adolescence, young people are more accepting of the feelings and thoughts of their peers. Peers can and do act as positive role models.

Parents, teachers, and other adults should encourage teens to find friends who have similar interests and viewpoints that you, as a parent, educator, religious, and community leader, are trying to develop in the teen. Critical adult views include doing well in school, having respect for others, avoiding drug use, smoking, drinking, and other risky behaviors.

During adolescence, young people engage in risky behaviors as they are trying to find their own identity and be more independent. This makes them very vulnerable to experimenting with or becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol, sexual activity, and defiance of authority, especially if there is peer pressure to do so. Teens who use drugs are also more likely to become involved in gang activity, have low self-esteem, behavior problems, school performance problems, and depression.

Parents, teachers, religious and community leaders want to promote positive peer pressure among adolescents. Parents and other adults often believe that teens don’t value their opinions. In fact, studies suggest that parents have a great influence on their children, especially adolescents. Regardless of the age of their children, parents, caregivers, and other adult role models should never feel powerless to counter the negative effects of peer pressure.

Here are some suggestions for what parents and other adults can do:

o Establish and maintain good communications

o Foster strong self-esteem.

o Avoid criticism that takes the form of ridicule or embarrassment.

o Supervise the activities of your teenagers

o Role-play peer pressure situations

o Talk openly and honestly about theft, alcohol, illegal drugs, and sex.

o Avoid attacking the teen’s friends: Criticizing a teen’s choice of friend can be perceived by a teen as a personal attack.

o Be an involved parent

o Ask questions and enjoy listening to teens talk.

o Involve adolescents in youth groups, community activities, and peer monitoring programs

o Help the adolescent understand the difference between image (expressions of youth culture) and identity (who he or she is)

Peer pressure during childhood and adolescence equips young people to develop healthy friendships, self-identity, self-esteem, and self-sufficiency. It’s healthy for everyone to talk about how they feel about what they need, want, and want. Parents mistakenly assume their teen doesn’t want to talk to them, but the teen may not want to talk about her bad grades, her bad behavior, and the trouble she’s in. Teens are generally more willing to talk about something that interests them or something positive about them.

Develop the habit of talking to your teen every day. Building a strong, close, and open relationship with him or her while they are young will make it easier for your teen to talk about problems, worries, and other sensitive topics associated with school, relationships, and other life stressors.