Living up to the expectations of others can certainly be draining. If you have found yourself doing things that you actually didn’t want to do, or even engaged in risky behavior just for the sheer pressure and expectations of your social circle, then you have experienced the dreaded peer pressure.

Don’t worry, though. We have all been through it at some point in our lives. Nonetheless, the unspoken peer pressure that happens in schools can be a cause of depression in teens, and that’s why we are going to discuss how parents can help reduce pressure in teens.

What is Peer Pressure?

Peer pressure is the influence exerted by the majority on a person, to the point of it being capable of modifying their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It could be both positive or negative peer pressure.

This can affect anyone at any given age, but it takes a tool mostly in adolescents because as they try to develop friendships and fit in, they end up falling prey to social pressure. To seek social acceptance they end up imitating behaviors of the same social group, i.e wearing the same clothes as their friends, listening to the same music, and watching the same tv shows.

Types of Peer Pressure

Positive peer influence

The dynamics of a peer group can be a positive influence and assist in establishing healthy and wholesome behaviors that are age-appropriate and socially accepted. For example, if a group of good friends wants to get good grades, an adolescent may be positively influenced to study.

If a popular friend wants to save money to buy a car, for example, he or she may be influenced by others to look for a job and open a savings account. This is when peers set plenty of good examples for each other.

Negative peer pressure

Asking a teenager to engage in behavior that goes against his or her moral code or family values is a type of negative pressure. Adolescents see these acts in other young people and are faced with the difficult decision of choosing sides, following the negative leader, and turning away from behavior that goes against their ethical principles.

The most common type of negative pressure is risk-taking behaviors like drug use. Nonetheless, this type of pressure doesn’t have much effect on young people with a strong sense of themselves, beliefs, and morals, because it goes against their principles and simply cannot be accepted.

Direct peer pressure

Direct pressure is exerted when one peer group asks, suggests, persuades, or leads another to participate in a specific action, behavior, deed, or challenge. This pressure resides in a one-on-one interaction; the one being influenced has more opportunity to confront his or her decision against his or her set of beliefs and values.

Indirect peer pressure

With indirect pressure, adolescents are exposed to the actions of one or more peers and can choose which one to follow. This type of peer pressure can be exemplified in fashion choices, personal interactions, social behaviors, teams, parties, media, and groups of friends, among others.

Examples of Negative Peer Pressure

Peel pressure can have serious negative effects on young people, as it can influence them to do dangerous actions that can have severe consequences. Negative influence can lead them to do things like:

• Disobey their parents
• Bully other peers
• Drug abuse
• Doing risky things
• Drink alcohol
• Substance abuse

Besides leading to negative behaviors, negative peer influence can also lead to the destruction of self-confidence, and eventually end up with mental health problems and a depressive state with the following warning signs, as described by Health Canal:

• Sleeping patterns disorder
• Low moods
• In some cases, it can worsen asthma

How to Deal with Peer Pressure

Resisting to peer pressure is not precisely easy and according to this scientific article, teens are too responsive to this pressure, so these recommendations are useful in helping adolescents not to give in.

Build Trust To Talk About What Makes Them Uncomfortable

This circle of trusted people can be: a mom, dad, and or a family member. Parents may play a significant role in positive peer pressure. Teachers or even a friend of the same age are also good examples.

Establish Positive Friendships

It would be good for teens to surround themselves with people their age who have the same interests and share the same behavior. Having good, responsible friends is key.

Build A Strong Sense Of Self-Esteem

Teens with high self-esteem accepts themselves and the way they are, as well as respect themselves. Building good self-esteem will help them stay away from groups with negative influences.

Learn To Make Their Own Decisions

There will come a time when important decisions are made for future life. Teens should learn that every action has consequences and that if they do something negative, they will have to face them. This will help them to say NO to group pressure.

Learn To Say No

They should know that there’s nothing wrong with saying “no” to something, and they have every right to do so if they are feeling pressured to do something they don’t want to do.

Parents Can Be The Strongest Influence In An Adolescent’s Life

Parents can become the strongest influence on their children, as long as they understand and are aware of the different types of pressure they face. Healthy supportive family relationships, behaviors that demonstrate responsibility, openness to dialogue, freedom from prejudice, and avoidance of judgment are often components that develop a positive influence on adolescents.

Teachers Also Have A Positive Influence

Other great influencers of children, youth, and adolescents are teachers. As educators who accompany them throughout their lives, from preschool age to the completion of undergraduate and graduate studies, teachers definitely have a positive influence on the lives of all students.

Conclusion

Peer pressure is undoubtedly a tool that can enhance negative or positive aspects in groups, especially in adolescents who may have difficulties in consolidating their ideological processes and ways of facing reality. The key to resisting peer pressure is for the teen to have role models, new ideas, and the positive effects of healthy self-confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can positive peer pressure revert bad behaviors?

A: Yes, it can help to change and abandon bad habits.

Q: What are other good ways to resist negative peer pressure?

A: Sports, clubs, family activities, and things of the like are very good measures.