Peer Pressure Home
Every day people face pressure to behave a certain way. Societal pressure can be positive, such as police officers enforcing driving laws or schools enforcing attendance policies. Other times, people can face such extreme pressure that it causes them to behave contrary to their beliefs.
What are the positive and negative aspects of peer pressure? And what can we do to minimize negative effects?
Negative Peer Pressure
Girls in high school often face pressure to fit in.
- More than 90 percent of girls (15 to 17 years) want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance, with body weight ranking the highest, according to the Dove Campaign for real beauty.
- By age 15, clinically depressed girls outnumber boys with depression 2 to 1, according to NYU Child Study Center.
- Girls' self-esteem peaks when they are 9 years old, then takes a nose dive, acording to clinical psychologist Robin F. Goodman the New York University Child Study Center Web site.
Other Statistics
- Approximately 50% of 12-17 year olds feel pressured in sex and relationships, according to The Kaiser Foundation.
- Approximately 30.2% of young adults are given, offered, or sold drugs in high school and middle school.
Positive Peer Pressure
Students with strong positive friendships and after-school activities may be better equipped to fight negative peer pressure.
- Several intervention studies by Smith and Smoll (1996) demonstrate that the quantity and quality of coaches’ feedback result in positive outcomes for young sport participants.
- Students with friends who like school, get good grades, and are interested in school are more likely to graduate high school (Ekstrom et al. 1986). Hence, having friends who believe that academic achievement is important is beneficial for adolescents.
- Adolescents who are engaged in friendships are more likely to be altruistic, display affective perspective-taking skills, maintain positive peer status (Savin-Williams and Berndt 1990), and have continued involvement in activities such as sports or arts (Patrick et al. 1999).
Contact:
Kristen Williams-KristenJoy1@gmail.com
Selina Affram-Affram87@yahoo.com
Last Revised: 5/5/2010