Being a teen means having to go through a lot of changes in life. Be it physical, emotional, or lifestyle change, it will affect how they socialize with other people. It is also the stage where people take a lot of risks and make mistakes.
Parents should always guide their children when they are transitioning to become a teen. Mark J. Johnson, PsyD said “Bullying, clique groups, peer pressure, dating, and drugs and alcohol are major topics of concern for children and their parents.” While it is okay to have friends, it is not okay to be heavily influenced by them. Teens always tend to take risks just to fit in and belong to a group, and this is where peer pressure usually stems from.
Negative Vs. Positive Peer Pressure
The word “pressure” has a negative connotation. We feel that being pressured means being pushed to do something beyond what we usually do. However, peer pressure can be both a good thing and a bad thing. According to Susan Albers, PsyD, “It’s hard to say no to peer pressure.”
When your child is experiencing positive peer pressure, he is more likely to try new activities, be more assertive, or join clubs or groups that they have the same interest with as their friends. Being positively influenced by peers can be reflected in the teen’s good behavior.
On the other hand, negative peer pressure encourages teens to try things they normally wouldn’t do such as entering intimate relationships, taking drugs, smoking or even simple things such as cutting classes. Usually, children who have few friends and have low self-esteem are easier to be negatively influenced by peers.
Peer Pressure And Teen Marriage
Based on the statement of Paul Chernyak, LPC, “Peer pressure is a big deal for adolescents and young adults.” As teens begin to spend less time in their homes, they strive to belong in a group with people they have the same interests in. Often, the teen’s peers might be influencing him to do something that he really doesn’t want to do, but because of peer pressure, he’ll be compelled to do so. One example is engaging in intimate relationships that may eventually lead to early marriage.
According to data by Unchained at Last, over the last 15 years, 200,000 children were married in the US. However, the actual figure might be higher because several States provided incomplete statistics. Moreover, teen marriage rarely lasts, and it may result in unhealthy relationships.
Ways To Talk To Your Teen About Teen Marriage
Parents still play a role in a teen’s life even though their peers are important during this developmental stage.Teens are less negatively influenced by peers when they have a good relationship with their parents. Parenting styles can affect peer influence. Below are simple ways on how to approach your teen when you want to talk to them about negative peer pressure and teen marriage:
- Understand and listen to them. It is vital that you trust your teen and as a parent, you must try to understand his situation first before reprimanding them.
- Practice open communication. Most teens stop being honestly open when communicating with their parents at this phase. As parents, you must be responsible for making your teen feel like they can tell you anything and you wouldn’t judge them immediately.
- Boost your child’s confidence. Teens with low self-esteem are more inclined to be negatively influenced by peers. Parents must know how to boost the self-confidence of their child.
It is important for your teens to know that even though they make mistakes, parents will still trust and guide them. Being influenced by peers can be a good thing, but what is even better is being greatly influenced by their good-natured parents.
