PEER PRESSURE IN TEENS

Friends, with no exception are one of the few key factors of a teenager’s life who shape what kind of a
person is the kid going to become in the near future and Peer pressure is the term that is unavoidable
when it comes to friends. Peer pressure is doing something that normally a person would not do but is
doing to fit in the friend group

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As a teenager, the biggest worry is to find people or spaces where you can belong. Most teens want to just
fit in with others and because of this desire, they become more sensitive to bullying, being made fun of, or
being excluded.As kids, we used to have this sense of modesty and humility in us that we don’t really get
affected by words amongst our friends and there was no fear of exclusion because there was always
someone who looks out for us but as we grow up , our self esteem grows along or more precisely
insecurity builds in us.Due to hormonal changes , we look at ourselves in a different way and start to
underrate ourselves which results in lowering of self confidence by looking at the ideal.The fact that teens
must be aware of is that ,”its okay to be not okay” We can change what in our control but only when it
abides by the rules set by our consicience.But initially before we learn this we push ourselves to do things
to impress people wo that we can get into group against our will,in the process we lose ourselves.
At the same time Peer pressure can have positive and negative effects on children. The positive effects of
peer pressure on teenagers can be in the form of pushing or encouraging each other to try out new things
and explore new goals. Peers also provide friendship and support we begin school. Being accepted by
others can help develop our self-esteem and confidence.
Being around peers and “friends” who pressure us to engage in activities and behaviors that we aren’t
comfortable with can make us feel anxious and depressed. Negative peer pressure can also make teens
self-doubt and become more self-conscious. When peers ask a teen to change their behaviour and
appearance to “fit in” then this kind of pressure can also make your teen feel uncomfortable and can lower
their self-confidence and doubt their self-identity.Some of the few ways I feel negative Peer pressure can
be avoided is as follows,

learn to say no: Declining to participate in activities that you are not comfortable with is a way to resist
peer pressure. Plan ahead and practice what you will say if you’re pressured to do something you don’t
want to do. For example, before going out with friends, you may practice what you might say if offered a
cigarette. You could decline with a simple “no, thanks,” or say that you don’t want it to interfere with your
soccer training, or you could state that it makes your allergies worse. Sometimes saying no may involve
leaving an unsafe situation. In these cases, it can be helpful to communicate with a parent or trusted adult
who can remove you from an unsafe situation.

Know yourself: When faced with peer pressure to engage in risky behaviors, such as using drugs or having
unprotected sex, it is important to remember your values. For example, maybe earning high grades and
acceptance into a prestigious college is important to you. Or, perhaps you value setting a good example for
younger siblings. Remembering these values will increase your confidence to say no to a choice that
doesn’t align with what is important to you.
Choose the right friends: Peer influence during adolescence is strong, so it is important to choose friends
wisely. As noted previously, peer pressure can be positive, so having the right group of friends can help you
make good choices. For example, choosing friends who value school and participate in positive activities
such as sports and church groups can limit your exposure to negative peer pressure. In addition, friends
who support your values can stand up for you if you find yourself in a situation where you need to say no
to peer pressure.

I conducted a Questtionnair on this topic where I cam across a lot of points which decide upon whether
teenager is subjected to peer pressure or not ,with regard to that, confidence and sensitiveness are the
two key factors that involve in the strengthening of a kid’s heart determining who hard does it take to
break it or melt it
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there are many ways in which a parent can involve in a teenagers life with respect to this problem. A
parent’s responsibility starts from giving space to a child while also showering unconditional love on the
kid.It also comprises making the kid’s own conscience right and clear so that he/she could make her own
decisions.When it come to Peer pressure, a parent can,
Build teenage confidence
Confidence can help teenagers resist negative peer influence. That’s because confident teenagers can
make safe, informed decisions and avoid people and situations that aren’t right for them.
You can build your child’s confidence by encouraging them to try new things that give them a chance of
success, and to keep trying even when things are hard. Praising your child for trying hard is important for
building confidence too.
You can also be a role model for confidence, and show your child how to act confident as the first step
towards feeling confident.
Build teenage self-compassion
Self-compassion is being kind to yourself and treating yourself with the same warmth, care and
understanding you’d give to someone you care about. When teenagers have self-compassion, it can help
them handle any stress and anxiety related to peer influence.

A strong relationship with you helps your child feel loved, accepted and secure. It’s important for teenage
self-compassion.
Keep the lines of communication open
You can do this by staying connected to your child. This helps your child feel they can come to you to talk if
they’re feeling pressured to do something they’re uncomfortable with.
Suggest ways to say no
Your child might need to have some face-saving ways to say no if they’re feeling influenced to do
something they don’t want to do. For example, friends might be encouraging your child to try smoking.
Rather than simply saying ‘No, thanks’, your child could say something like, ‘No, it makes my asthma
worse’, or ‘No, I don’t like the way it makes me smell’.
Give teenagers a way out
If your child feels they’re in a risky situation, it might help if they can text or phone you for back-up. You
and your child could agree on a coded message for those times when your child doesn’t want to feel
embarrassed in front of friends. For example, they could say that they’re checking on a sick grandparent,
but you’ll know that it really means they need your help.
If your child does call you, it’s important to focus on your child’s positive choice to ask you for help, rather
than on the risky situation your child is in. Your child is more likely to ask for help if they know they won’t
get into trouble.
Encourage a wide social network
If your child has the chance to develop friendships from many sources, including sport, family activities or
clubs, it will mean they’ve got plenty of options and sources of support if a friendship goes wrong
I conclude that Peer pressure is a problem faced by the teenagers where , teens must learn there are
certain things where parents must be involved and make things right.A sense of self awareness and self
acceptance also helps in creating a strong,unique self confident personality.