Peer Pressure: An Introduction

Parents, teachers, and kids talk about peer pressure all the time. They talk about how it has a strong influence on kids, and say that it can be a big problem in the school community. So what can parents do to help their kids resist peer pressure and have a positive influence on the other kids around them?

Did You Know?

Peer pressure has a strong effect on kids when it comes to risk behaviors:

• Students surveyed in Logan County, Ohio, stated that peer pressure was one of the top three factors that influenced high school students to drink alcohol.¹

• The smoking rate among kids who have three or more friends who smoke is 10 times higher than those who report that none of their friends smoke.²

The ability to resist peer pressure comes from a combination of many factors, including self-esteem, respect for others, and experience. And while you won’t always be there to get your child out of negative situations, you can help prepare her or him to be a positive influence on other kids and to make smart decisions, even in the face of peer pressure.