Beyond prompting kids to use drugs, peer pressure or the desire to impress their peers can override a teen or tween’s fear of taking risks , according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Kids. 1 This risky behavior with drugs and/or alcohol can result in the following: Accidents. Addiction.
What are the factors that influence drug abuse?
- Family history of addiction. Drug addiction is more common in some families and likely involves genetic predisposition. ...
- Mental health disorder. ...
- Peer pressure. ...
- Lack of family involvement. ...
- Early use. ...
- Taking a highly addictive drug.
How does the community contribute to substance abuse?
Communities with high rates of mobility (families moving frequently from home to home) appear to be linked to an increased risk of drug and crime problems. The more often people in community move, the greater the risk of both criminal behavior and drug- related problems in families [12, 13, 16].
How do peers influence you?
These peers also influence you by the way they dress and act , things they’re involved in, and the attitudes they show. ... People are influenced by peers because they want to fit in, be like peers they admire, do what others are doing, or have what others have.
How does peer pressure contribute to substance abuse in schools?
Effects of Peer Pressure
A review of the research shows that peers have a greater influence on adolescent substance abuse than do parents. Peers can encourage friends to use drugs and alcohol or tease them for being afraid to try them, which can lead to the initiation of drinking and drug use.
What are the five factors influencing substance use and abuse?
These factors are classified into: (1) parent–adolescent relationship, (2) peer pressure, (3) drug accessibility , (4) religiosity and (5) others.
Why are peers so important as an influence?
Peers, or a group of people who have similar interests, age, background, or social status, serve as an important source of information, feedback , and support to individuals as they develop a sense of self. Peers help socialize an individual by reinforcing or punishing behaviors or interpersonal interactions.
What is positive peer influence?
Positive peer pressure is when someone’s peers influence them to do something positive or growth building . For example, peers who are committed to doing well in school or at sport can influence others to be more goal orientated. Similarly, peers who are kind, loyal or supportive influence others to be the same.
Is peer influence always negative?
Peer pressure is commonly thought of in a negative light, but in reality, it’s not always a bad thing . Sometimes peer pressure is used to positively influence people. ... The way your child (or you, for that matter) responds to peer pressure can indicate who they are as an individual.
How does friends influence drug use?
Friends not only provide immediate access to substances, but also model drug using behavior and help shape beliefs and positive attitudes toward the use of drugs (Farrell & White, 1998). Friends’ substance use is also likely to influence perceptions of how normative substance use is among peers.
What is peer pressure and its effects?
Peer groups play an important role in young people’s lives, particularly during adolescence. ‘Peer pressure’ refers to the influence that these groups can have on how an individual thinks and acts . You can often find out who your child’s peers are by paying attention to who they socialise with and speak about.
How does peer group influence your view of yourself?
How you relate to your peers often determines your self -image. All children compare themselves with the other children they’re around. And especially during the teen years, peers can be more important than family to the opinions children form of themselves. Many experiences with our peers can affect our self-concept.
How do drugs deal with peer pressure?
- Pay attention to how you feel. ...
- Plan ahead. ...
- Talk to the person who is pressuring, let him or her know how it makes you feel and tell the person stop.
- Have a secret code to communicate with parents. ...
- Give an excuse. ...
- Have friends with similar values and beliefs.
How do friends influence your behavior?
Friends are important – they give us a feeling of belonging, bring fun and laughter , lend an extra hand, offer emotional support, and give guidance when you need it. And, whether you realize it or not, their influence goes well beyond the moment. Your close friendships help to shape the course of your life.
How does peer influence affect students?
Peer pressure can affect any aspect of someone’s life , including their education. People may be directly teased for being smart or earning good grades, leading to less effort or pride in their schoolwork; peer pressure in other areas may also spill over and influence educational performance.
What is negative peer influence?
Negative peer pressure usually involves influence that sways people toward risky activity such as criminal behavior, underage drinking, drug use, and an overall unhealthy lifestyle.
What is the difference between peer pressure and peer influence?
What is the difference between peer pressure and peer influence? Peer pressure is a direct suggestion from peers ; peer influence means that peers are watching you.
What are the disadvantages of peer group?
Rejection usually occurs early when the individual is trying to become a part of the peer group. The disadvantage is found in the feelings associated with rejection. These emotions include resentment, dislike, a feeling of isolationism and even depression .
What are the advantages and disadvantages of peer pressure?
- It can cause you to lose your identity. ...
- Peer pressure can increase the risk of a mental health issue. ...
- It can change your focus on progress. ...
- Peer pressure teaches power and control in unhealthy ways. ...
- It can create harmful circumstances that impact your life in adverse ways.
How does peer pressure cause crime?
Peer pressure can and does lead to criminal action . ... They want to impress their peers. They want to prove themselves. When others pressure them to do illegal activities — shoplifting, theft, using illegal drugs, etc.
How can peers impact positively on lifestyle choices?
It can also lead you to adopt good habits in life. ... Peers might even inspire you in some way or the other or even persuade you to bring about a constructive change in your life. Therefore, peer pressure can also have a positive impact on your life and can actually lead you to make the right choices for yourself.
How can peer pressure prevent drugs?
- Be Firm When Saying No to Peer Pressure and Drugs. ...
- Relate the Statistics. ...
- Avoid Situations Where You Might Be Tempted. ...
- Bring Along a Sober Buddy. ...
- Offer to Be the Designated Driver. ...
- Peer Pressure for Drugs Doesn’t Have to Make You Cave.
What does it mean when someone is your peer?
1 : one that is of equal standing with another : equal The band mates welcomed the new member as a peer. especially : one belonging to the same societal group especially based on age, grade, or status teenagers spending time with their peers.
How peers influence each other in a negative way?
Sometimes peers influence each other in negative ways. For example, a few kids in school might try to get you to cut class with them, your soccer friend might try to convince you to be mean to another player and never pass her the ball, or a kid in the neighborhood might want you to shoplift with him.
Is peer pressure harmful or beneficial?
Peer pressure can certainly be beneficial . It can motivate someone to do something that they may not otherwise have had the strength or willpower to do. It can also help them to make a decision based on the input of those in similar circumstances.
How does peer pressure affect society?
Peer pressure can lead to a loss of individuality . Extreme peer pressure may lead you to follow what your peers feel right. Their pressure may compel you to go by everything they think right. You tend to blindly imitate the masses; you adopt their tastes of fashion, clothing, hair, music and general living.
When can you say that you are influenced by group?
So let’s now take a moment or two to review. Group influence occurs when the majority of people in a group influence the thoughts and behaviors of other people within that group .
How do peers impact positively or negatively on your self-esteem?
Negative peer pressure can have a negative impact on your teen’s self-esteem. In some cases, children and teens find themselves overly dependent on their peers because they begin to develop an issue with self-confidence. Teasing from others can cause teenagers to feel as if they aren’t as good as their peers.
How can groups and friends affect our behavior and thinking?
“If you are with a new social group, you are more likely to imitate behaviours .” Our decisions might not always be in our hands. But this also means we can use our influence for good. “The same way a negative behaviour can spread through a network of people a positive one can spread through a network,” says Scholz.
