By Kathleen Mazor, EdD, MS
Contributing Writer

“At a stage in life where learning to connect deeply with others is critical, learning from and being influenced by one’s peers may well be as vital to social development as breathing is to physical survival.”
—Dr. Joseph Allen, professor of psychology at the University of Virginia.

Adolescents are especially sensitive to social stimuli, and peer pressure is often cited as a key factor in problematic or harmful behaviors during this period. But it turns out the story is not that simple.

First, it’s important to distinguish between peer influence and peer pressure. Peer influence refers to the impact that individuals within a group have on each other’s attitudes, behaviors, and values. Peer influence can be subtle, and can occur through association and observation, without explicit requests for conformity or other behaviors. Peer pressure, in contrast, involves a more direct force, where individuals feel compelled to conform to their peers’ expectations or requests, sometimes against their own wishes. Essentially, peer pressure is a specific form of peer influence, where those doing the influencing are intentionally pressuring or even coercing the recipient to act, believe or feel a particular way.

Both peer influence and peer pressure can yield positive, neutral or negative outcomes. While many adolescents encounter peers who engage in or encourage smoking, drinking, and unsafe sex, they also have peers who excel academically, train for athletic events, become vocal advocates for social causes, and exhibit other positive behaviors. These beneficial aspects of peer influence are often overlooked because the negative effects of peer pressure can be both harmful and striking.

Recent research has highlighted the positive effects of peer influence and the importance of strong peer connections. Dr. Joseph Allen emphasizes that intense peer connections are generally adaptive. He writes, “At a stage in life where learning to connect deeply with others is critical, learning from and being influenced by one’s peers may well be as vital to social development as breathing is to physical survival.” Similar to Jonathan Haidt, Allen suggests that the rise in depression and anxiety among adolescents may be linked to a lack of strong peer bonds and increased risk aversion. He argues, “the biggest social problem adolescents face currently appears not to be the intensity of their peer bonds, but rather the lack of these intense peer bonds.” Allen also proposes that the recent increases in adolescent anxiety and mental health issues may be less about time spent on social media, and more about the reduction in in-person interactions.

In addition to peer influence, it is important to recognize the impact of adults on adolescents. Dr. Eva Telzer, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, has explored this area in her research. Her findings indicate that adolescents are about as likely to hold their parents’ attitudes as their peers’ attitudes, but they are even more likely to stick with their own attitudes. Dr. Telzer sums it up this way: “…rather than being… overly susceptible to what other people think in their social environment, especially their peers, adolescents are actually kind of sticking to their guns more often than they are to follow what their peers think or even what their parents think.”

Social Connections Are Critical

In 2023, the World Health Organization launched a Commission on Social Connection. This initiative aims to tackle social isolation and loneliness globally. Etienne Krug, director of the WHO’s Department of Social Determinants of Health, emphasized the widespread nature of these issues and their serious impacts on physical and mental health.

Recent studies show that encouraging positive social connections among young people can make a real difference. One promising approach is The Connection Project, a 12-week program that features 45- to 60-minute small group sessions led by trained facilitators. The sessions include activities designed to foster a sense of belonging and support. The program unfolds through three phases: creating a safe peer environment, enhancing social belonging, and consolidating relationships. Activities involve affirming personal values and sharing experiences to help students see they are not alone in their feelings. The aim is to help young people view their peer relationships as ongoing sources of support.

In one study, high school students were divided into two groups; one group participated in the Connection Project, the other remained in their regular classes. Four months later, those in the Connection Project reported better peer relationships, higher academic engagement, and fewer depressive symptoms compared to students who stayed in their regular classes. The researchers argued that “the intense motivation and interest that peer relationships engender in adolescence provide a tremendous, and relatively untapped, potential context for positive youth development.”

In a second study, researchers implemented the Connection Project with college students, specifically first-year and transfer students. They found that participants reported greater increases in their sense of belonging, and reduced loneliness and depressive symptoms.

Social connections are critical during adolescence and beyond, and the strength of those connections seems to be especially important. Researchers reported that those with fewer or less stable close friendships in adolescence at age 13 were more likely to experience negative affect (measured via a trait anxiety scale) in adulthood.

Strong social connections can have a lasting impact on well-being, highlighting the need for programs that help people develop these bonds from a young age.