Peer Pressure

From “Helping Youth Say No,” National Association of State Boards of Education, as cited by National School Public Relations Association.

It Isn’t Easy Being Me

All teenagers are faced constantly with decisions that are critical to their well-being. While pressure from many sources bombards them, at this age peer pressure is a major influence in their lives – pressure often involving decisions about whether to use drugs and alcohol, become sexually active, or drop out of school. The decision-making skills that parents have been helping their child learn all along can now become the guiding factors in the choices a teenager makes.

Some Peer Pressure is Good

Hanging out, listening to the same music, dressing, and talking as their friends do are all normal steps teenagers take in struggling for their independence. “Having to belong” is preparation for the bigger step of becoming an independent adult. Parents need to understand how important it is to most teenagers to “be part of the crowd.”

With the support of their peers, teens learn how to build friendships, including friendships with the opposite sex. They use each other to develop, test, and practice social skills that will be with them for their entire lives. Their friends serve as the bridge between dependence on the family and the independence needed as an adult. Parents need to understand that positive peer pressure serves a welcome purpose – even so, a teen does need help resisting pressures that are contrary to the family’s values.

The key to dealing with negative peer pressure is self-confidence. Teenagers who are unsure of themselves and want to be accepted are much more likely to give in to negative peer pressure than those who have plenty of confidence. The following are some ways parents can help teenagers develop self-confidence.

Parent Tips