Helping Your Teen Handle Peer Pressure

Peer pressure can negatively affect a child’s behavior and life choices. It may involve choosing the same clothes as their peers, listening to music, or watching shows. Peer pressure could also lead to poor decisions. Negative behaviors like alcohol and drug use may also occur among teenagers due to peer pressure. For this reason, it’s imperative to know the causes of stress and comprehend how to spot signs of strain in teens. Keep reading for more helpful information on handling peer pressure.

How to Spot Peer Pressure

New or questionable friends may be red flags for parents. How can you help your teen with a new friend that raises concern? Here are some tips for parents to spot peer pressure and help teens gain confidence:

• Change in Behavior
• Feeling Like they Don’t Fit In
• Constant Comparisons
• School Performance
• Obsession with Image

Change in Behavior

Teenagers can engage in verbal or physical aggression among their peers, act disobedient, or show a change in energy level. If your teen acts differently around a specific group of friends, it could be a sign of peer pressure. Some of the acts to note include what they say, actions they take, and the way they act. Before concluding any of the changes in behavior is a sign of peer pressure, it’s advisable to look out for more signs. Does your teen sleep less or more, become moody about specific issues, and act care-free? Those are some significant questions to ask before reaching a conclusion relating to the change in behavior.

Feeling Like They Don’t Fit in Perfectly

When teenagers feel they don’t fit in, it depicts a significant level of peer pressure. For instance, a particular group of friends wear specific clothes and listen to a particular type of music. For such reasons, young adults may feel like they can’t associate with those people because they don’t share common interests. Once teenagers feel they can’t fit into a specific group of people, they typically experience social anxiety. Note that social anxiety is a feeling of intense, persistent, and chronic fear in social situations. Teens experiencing social anxiety fear getting judged in social situations.

Constant Comparisons

Adolescents often compare themselves to others, especially when they don’t fit into a specific group. These comparisons cause low self-esteem and contribute to significant anxiety levels in some cases. Parents may need to point it out to their teens when they notice any form of comparison. It’s also essential to build their self-esteem by helping them define their identities. Many times, it’s helpful to identify what makes your teen unique and encourage them to embrace those gifts. It may also be necessary to set limits on social media to reduce the tendency for constant comparison.

School Performance

If your teen usually has top grades in school and you observe a sudden drop, it could result from peer pressure. Note that several issues can cause a drop in school performance. So, it’s imperative to confirm other signs of peer pressure before concluding.

Obsession with Image

When teens suddenly build up concern about how others see them, it can be a sign of peer pressure. Such individuals often begin to seek validation by taking actions relating to things that typically don’t draw their interest. For instance, a teen may suddenly care about wearing designer labels. If you find your teen overly concerned about their image, speak to them gently and try strengthening their sense of identity. If that proves ineffective, consider seeking help to handle peer pressure.

Get Help at Liahona Treatment Center

Most teens are vulnerable to peer pressure, making it imperative for parents to understand how to spot signs. Pressure can lead to various harmful effects, including the use of alcohol, distraction from school, and distance from loved ones. Get help today from Liahona Treatment Center for your teen experiencing peer pressure. Contact us to learn more.