Teens and peer pressure

TEENS and peer pressure are a common combination, with peer pressure statistics showing that when teens’ friends ask them to smoke or drink, they are more likely to do so. One peer pressure definition describes it as occurring when a teen does something he or she normally wouldn’t do to fit in with friends.

While peer pressure can be negative and influence a teen to abuse drugs or alcohol, it can also be positive. Different forms of peer pressure can affect teens in various ways.

Types of peer pressure

There are different types of peer pressure with teens, ranging from positive to negative, and including both spoken and silent peer pressure. These various forms of peer pressure can have a noticeable impact on teens’ choices and behaviours.

Sometimes, peer pressure can result in unhealthy or dangerous behaviours, but it can also influence teens in positive ways, such as by encouraging them to put forth their best effort in school. Negative vs positive peer pressure Negative peer pressure and positive peer pressure can both influence the choices a teen makes. Negative peer pressure can persuade teens to engage in risky behaviours or break rules, whereas positive peer pressure results in teens making healthy, beneficial choices, according to the experts.

Examples of negative peer pressure include:

⬤ being asked to try alcohol or smoke cigarettes

⬤ encouraging a friend to engage in unprotected sex

⬤ asking a friend to participate in shoplifting from a store

⬤ convincing a peer to skip school Positive peer pressure, on the other hand, could involve any of the following:

⬤ encouraging a friend to try a new club at school

⬤ supporting a friend in studying harder and improving their grades

⬤ peers asking a friend to join a sports team

⬤ inviting a friend to volunteer at a charity event

Spoken vs silent peer pressure

Peer influence can be spoken, but it can also include non-verbal peer pressure. For example, silent peer pressure involves peers modelling certain behaviours. Teens who are considered to be part of the popular crowd may be seen smoking cigarettes, leading other peers to believe that smoking is a desirable thing to do.

Silent peer pressure can also involve witnessing peers dressing a certain way or listening to a specific type of music, as seeing these behaviors can pressure others to make the same music or clothing choices.

Spoken peer pressure is verbal and can involve:

⬤ encouragement to participate in certain activities

⬤ teasing for not engaging in “cool” behaviours like drinking

⬤ offering alcohol or cigarettes

⬤ asking a peer if they want to participate in an activity, like attending a party

Effects of peer pressure

Peer pressure can be beneficial or negative. One area in which peer pressure can have a negative influence is drinking and drug use.

A review of the research shows that peers have a greater influence on adolescent substance abuse than do parents. Peers can encourage friends to use drugs and alcohol or tease them for being afraid to try them, which can lead to the initiation of drinking and drug use.

The effects of peer pressure can also influence sexual behaviour in teens. One study found that peers’ views about sex have a significant effect on the sexual behaviour of adolescents. In addition, having peers who are sexually active is linked to engagement in risky sexual activities.