This holiday, beware of peer pressure

In our society today, peer pressure is seen as the major cause of distraction amongst children and youths. This is especially felt at school levels. The period during which peer pressure is believed to be at its peak is during the early adolescence of a child. It could either be positive or negative. The negative influence of a peer group is more connected to the involvement in risky behaviours, whilst the positive influence is more connected with protective behaviours.

What is peer pressure?

Peer pressure is when you choose to do something you wouldn’t otherwise do, because you want to feel accepted and valued by your friends and peers. It isn’t just or always about doing something against your will.

Peer pressure can also be positive. For example, your child might be influenced to become more assertive, try new activities or get more involved with school activities and excellence. But it can be negative too. Some teenagers might choose to try things they normally wouldn’t be interested in, like smoking, drinking, skipping classes or behaving in anti-social ways.

Likewise social media has resulted in many teenagers feeling more pressure from their peers. Peer pressure can result to teenagers choosing the same clothes, hairstyle or jewellery as their friends, changing the way they talk or the words they use; doing risky things or breaking rules; dating or taking part in sexual activities, using drugs or other hard substances.

Peer pressure can be avoided by thinking about your actions and if you would participate in the behavior if your social circle was not influencing or pressuring you to do so. Also, if the idea of engaging in that activity makes you uncomfortable, it’s best to listen to your inner voice and not engage in such activities.

Parents should be able to understand their kids so as to know if the child is being influenced positively or negatively. Parental monitoring must be involved (knowledge about their children’s activities, who they hang out with; who spend time with and what they do)

Data from a recent survey reveals that young people in Nigeria are facing a mental health challenge, with 1 in 6 young Nigerians aged 15 – 24 saying they often feel depressed; have little interest in doing things, or are worried, nervous or anxious.

Parents are advised to build confidence, self-compassion and a strong relationship with their children, especially the teenagers; communicate with them, have open and honest conversations with them and also understand them.

If you notice changes in your child’s mood, behaviour, eating or sleeping patterns, which you think are because of their friends, it might be time to have a talk with your child.

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