Peer pressure - Help facing challenges

Many adults think peer pressure is always negative, but peers often are positive role models, too!

Peers listen to and understand the frustrations and challenges someone their own age is experiencing, often better than we can. Peers can offer a sense of acceptance and belonging that all young people need. 

Making sure youth are connected to peers with positive behaviors is vitally important. Youth whose friends smoke, drink alcohol, take drugs or engage in other negative behaviors are more likely to engage in those behaviors themselves. 

The opposite is also true: adolescents whose friends have high educational aspirations do well in school. Friends who are active and happy can encourage and engage their peers in healthy behaviors, too.

If you are concerned about the negative effect of friends, here are some suggestions for helping youth resist negative peer pressure.