Peer Pressure: Beyond Popular Perception

Third Annual Childhood Injury SummitSeptember 22, 2011

U of M Extension Educator, Family Relations Colleen Gengler, cgengler@umn.edu

Today, we will talk about . . .

• Peer pressure & common perceptions• What it means for different ages• How it fits with injury prevention• Strategies for working with parents & youth • Resources

Where do you work?

Rural

Suburba

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1. Rural2. Suburban3. Urban

Which one describes your work?

Public healt

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Emergen

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p...

Law en

forcemen

... Pediat

ricians

Child

care

Fire sa

fety/f

i... R

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1. Public health2. Emergency responders 3. Law enforcement 4. Pediatricians5. Child care6. Fire safety/fighters7. Red Cross8. Water safety9. Other

Friends are important at every age!

Peer Influence: 8 -14 years of age • Exists to some degree for all ages• Greater independence• Sharp rise in concern about peer acceptance

in middle childhood• Typical teen characteristics appear earlier• Becomes more important in early

adolescence• Peer pressure peak – about 9th grade

8 14

Common Perceptions of Peer Pressure

Are they true or false?

Teens are not all the same in their susceptibility to peer influence.

True

False

0%0%

1. True2. False

Teens are not all the same in their susceptibility to peer influence.

True• What makes a difference

– Individual characteristics– Gender & age– The situation

Peer pressure can be both positive and negative.

True

False

0%0%

1. True2. False

Peer pressure can be both positive and negative.

True

“The real question is not whether adolescents will feel peer pressure, but what kind of pressure they will feel.”

(Steinberg, 2011)

Peers lead the adolescent astray.

True

False

0%0%

1. True2. False

Peers lead the adolescent astray. False

• If there is negative peer influence, we need to look at why the teen chose those friends.

• Teens choose friends based on similar interests.

• Younger children select best friends with similar levels of tolerance for risk taking

Teens are influenced far more by peers than by parents on every issue.

True

False

50%50%1. True2. False

Teens are influenced far more by peers than by parents on every issue.

False

• Teens are influenced by peers on current pop culture choices.

• Teens are influenced by parents on long-term choices.

Peer pressure for teens is very direct, in your face.

True

False

50%50%1. True2. False

Peer pressure is very direct, in your face.

False• Peer pressure occurs in many forms.

– Verbal, non-verbal– Influence will vary by who the source is– Self-induced

“All the guys are going to try it. But….I don’t know. I’m worried I won’t be able to.”

(6th grade boy talking about a skateboard trick)

Knowledge

Behavior

Working with Parents• How would parents respond to these

statements?• Do parents blame children’s actions on peer

pressure?• Is there a gap between how parents might

answer (knowledge) and how they will parent their child (behavior)?

• What information do parents need?

What can you encourageparents to do?

• Share values & standards• Encourage independence & decision making

at home• Talk with children about possible situations• Be a good role model in safety behaviors• Know children’s friends • Build their own confidence

Working with Youth• Focus on healthy exploration that

facilitates positive youth development • Provide a safe, supervised environment • Provide a support system for youth to fall

back on• Target groups as opposed to individuals• Foster a shared sense of responsibility• Encourage self awareness & problem

solving • Consider other teaching models

“Stepping Out”• Cross – age teaching• Youth teaching youth • Curriculum;

– Health, nutrition, & physical activity

– 10 lessons

Cross – age teaching

• Committed adult mentor• High expectations for the teen teachers• Quality training of youth teachers

(Lee, Murdock, & Paterson, 1996)

• Strong curriculum, attention to detail, team building, feedback, evaluation, recognition & reward

The Big Picture of Childhood Risk-taking

Emotional

Brain Dev. Social

Risk-taking

Cognitive

Peer Influence & Injury Prevention • Exists to some degree for all ages• Greater independence• Sharp rise in concern about peer acceptance

in middle childhood• Typical teen characteristics appear earlier• Becomes more important in early

adolescence• Peer pressure peak – about 9th grade

8 14

Resources

• University of Minnesota Extension Online resources: www.extension.umn.edu/family– Teen Talk free fact sheets– Parenting younger children

• Parent Further – Search Institutewww.parentfurther.com/parenting/friends

• Parenting 24/7 – University of Illinois Extensionhttp://parenting247.org

References:• Dworkin, J. & Gengler, C. (2009 - 2011). Understanding adolescent risk-taking behavior –

research update for professionals online via WebVista. University of Minnesota Extension & Department of Family Social Science.

• Gengler, C. (2006). Take and Teach Lesson: Peers, Peer Pressure and Peer Relationships. St. Paul MN: University of Minnesota Extension Service.

• Kennedy, C., & Floriani, V. (2009). Changes in childhood risk taking and safety behavior after a peer group media intervention. Nursing Research, 58(4), 264-273.

• Kennedy, C., & Floriani, V. (2008). Translating research on healthy lifestyles for children: Meeting the needs of diverse populations. Nursing Clinics of North America, 43, 397-417.

• Morrongiello, B.A., & Schwebel, D. (2008). Gaps in childhood injury research and prevention: What can developmental scientists contribute? Child Development Perspectives, 2(2), 78-84.

• Morrongiello, B.A., Corbett, M., & Bellissimo, A. (2008). "Do as I say, not as I do": Family influences on children's safety behaviors. Health Psychology, 27(4), 498 – 503.

• Morrongiello, B. A., & Lasenby-Lessard, J. (2007). Psychological determinants of risk taking by children: an integrative model and implications for interventions. Injury Prevention, 13, 20-25.

• Morrongiello, B. A., & Sedore, L. (2005). The influence of child attributes and social-situational context on school-age children’s risk taking behaviors that can lead to injury. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 26(3), 347-361.

• Steinberg, L. (2011). You and your adolescent: The essential guide for ages 10-25. New York: Simon & Schuster.

• Steinberg, L. (2007). Risk Taking in Adolescence – New Perspectives From Brain and Behavioral Science. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 16, 55-59.