Peer Pressure in Adolescents

Peer pressure in adolescence can be understood as a process by which you may be influenced to do certain things to be accepted and valued by a social group. If anything, you may not even choose to do those things if you did not want to fit in. However, you are not alone in this, as peer pressure is an extremely common experience during adolescence.

Teenage years bring about multiple biological, social, and psychological changes that occur simultaneously that can be overwhelming to go through without adequate support and understanding from friends and family. Peer pressure is a defining trait of adolescence, generally visible from the age of 10, peaking at 14, and then declining over the remaining duration of adolescence.

Peer pressure in adolescents can look like dressing in a certain way, getting a very particular haircut, drinking, engaging in risky sexual activities, etc. Though peer pressure is mostly used to describe socially undesirable and risky behaviors, it can also be positive. This can look like avoiding substance abuse, exercising, or studying together. If you’re looking to seek help for your teenage child, talk to a mental health coach.

Also read: The Importance of Therapy for Individuals with Substance Abuse

What is peer pressure in adolescence?

Peer pressure is a direct or indirect influence that the social group has on you. Because of peer pressure, you may feel pressured to do something just to belong in a group. This might not always be negative, as sometimes you might also engage in positive behaviour as a result of peer pressure. 

Peer pressure is a very far-reaching concept. Adolescence is a tricky time, and you might not only experience peer pressure from your close peers (friends, family, etc.) but also from your larger social group like your church or school. It also affects everyone, regardless of class, status, or age. 

What leads to peer pressure in adolescence?

Like many other events that occur in adolescence, peer pressure is also a combination of different personal and environmental factors. 

Peer pressure in adolescence can be traced back to the most basic human need - the need to belong. As you find yourself in the transition phase of getting to know more people your age and moving beyond parental safety and company, your group of friends become the first contact of information with respect to how you should think and act.

However, getting the approval of your peer groups during adolescence is not always easy. There are some styles, values, interests, and actions that you would have to conform to. Resistance to peer pressure during adolescence can result in mockery, insult, or rejection. This is also a time when your brain is the most responsive to others’ opinions. Hence, you try to steer clear of situations that may require confrontation when you feel that something is wrong, getting insulted, or rejected. 

Age can also play a role in determining to what extent a teenager can be influenced by peer pressure. According to research, the susceptibility to peer pressure peaks in the former years of adolescence (ages 10 to 14). As an individual grows, negative peer pressure in adolescence has less of an impact because most people will mature and learn to draw their own boundaries. Talking to your mental health practitioner can help you understand how to practice saying “no” and setting healthy boundaries at an early age better. Considering gender, studies have shown that boys are more susceptible to peer pressure during adolescence, including socially risky behaviours like violence and delinquency. 

Relationship dynamics between adolescents can also determine to what extent will they influence each other. This refers to the quality of the relationship shared between the adolescent and their peers, the duration of the relationship, and how meaningful they find it to be. The adolescent’s relationship with their parent also acts as an important factor in peer pressure. If the adolescent observes their parent giving in to peer pressure, they would be more likely to model similar behaviour. If the adolescent lacks a healthy and positive self-image at home, they can be more prone to undertaking actions that boost their self-image, even if it comes with a cost. A healthy self-image encouraged by parents can help in being more assertive, which can help resist negative peer pressure during adolescence.

Types of peer pressure in adolescence

One can experience various types of peer pressure in adolescence. Going to the gym, getting a strange tattoo, haircut, piercing, or studying together can all be different types of peer pressure. Here are the common types, with examples of peer pressure in adolescence.

• Spoken peer pressure: It can be more verbal, where the peer tries to influence the adolescent by saying something. For example, “Come on, having one beer won’t do anything.” 

• Unspoken peer pressure: It can often be non-verbal, and it often becomes a standard that has to be achieved that goes without saying. An example can be an adolescent being forced into drinking as it is the only way of socialising with friends.

• Negative peer pressure: As discussed before, this type is commonly used to describe peer pressure. It is when an adolescent is made to do something that they wouldn’t usually do if it was not for the social group that they’re trying to fit into. Examples include having a negative body image, drinking alcohol, smoking, etc.

• Positive peer pressure: Put simply, this is when an adolescent is made to engage in healthy and productive activities by their peers. For example, studying together or eating healthy together.

What can peer pressure result into?

If not kept in check, the effects of peer pressure on teenagers can be dangerous. It can impact their mental health in many ways. They can grow up with a poor self-image and negative thinking. As adolescence is also the time when teenagers internalise a lot of values and behaviours, it can result in them growing up to be avoidant of conflicts in relationships or the workplace in the future.

Peer pressure in adolescence can also make them more prone to mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. It can inhibit their ability to self-regulate their emotions and behaviour. In grave cases, it can also escalate into suicidal ideation. 

Also read: How to Overcome Loneliness: Tips and Techniques for Breaking the Cycle

On the other hand, positive peer pressure can have a positive impact on the teenager’s well-being. It can help them boost self-confidence, have a sense of belonging and be there for each other for moral support. It can also help them learn how to trust one another and be a better role model for one another.

What Can You Do About Peer Pressure?

It is important to realise that there are many things that you as a parent or a friend can do to help. With the right support and care in a confusing phase like adolescence, teenagers can be displayed positive and healthy coping mechanisms for them to observe and learn from. 

You can allow them to take their time to have an understanding of the impact of behaviours and activities that they choose to indulge in. This can help them understand and resist peer pressure in adolescence. It is important to let them explore, make mistakes, and help them learn from their mistakes. In this process, the role of a parent or a guardian should be to show consistent care and support. This is crucial not only for the teenager to deal with the effects of peer pressure, but also to build trust with their parent or guardian.

Also read: Assertiveness Techniques for Those Who Find It Hard to Say “No”

Bottom Line

Living with peer pressure as a teenager is complicated, to say the least. There are multiple factors to consider and choose from, which can often leave one to experience a lot of discomfort every day. With the right care, support, and companionship, adolescents can experience friendship and other social bonds with lesser stress and anxiety. 

Remember that it is okay to seek help for your adolescent if you can see them having a particularly difficult time coping with peer pressure or with adolescence overall. Talk to a mental health coach to understand what help can work best, and learn ways to resist peer pressure in adolescence.