Peer Pressure & Mental Health
By: Mominah Ambreen
Tags: Mental Health Awareness, Peer Pressure, Mental Health, Awareness, Psychology

Peer pressure is a state of being directly influenced by the peers. Peers are mostly and usually of the same age and occupation. Peer pressure can come in various forms and the effect varies from individual to individual. Research suggests that most impressionable age for peer influence seems to be the middle school years. Adolescents are in a phase of experimenting different things in different areas of life therefore they are easily influenced by people around. Influence can be both positive and negative but negativity surpasses positivity easily therefore the age of middle school is crucial and vulnerable to any negative influence.

Types of Peer Pressure

1. Spoken Peer Pressure

Spoken peer pressure is when a teenager directs, persuades or otherwise or asks another individual to engage in a specific behavior.

2. Unspoken Peer Pressure

Unspoken is a kind of peer pressure where the individual is exposed to the actions of others but left with a choice to follow along.

3. Direct Peer Pressure

It is either spoken or unspoken but mainly behavior-centric. The individual hands over things that he/she wants other person to try so they are left to make a on-spot decision.

4. Indirect Peer Pressure

This kind of peer pressure is subtle yet leaves a strong impact on an impressionable young person.

5. Negative Peer Pressure

Directing or persuading an individual to opt for things that go against their moral values or ethical code of conduct is negative peer pressure.

6. Positive Peer Pressure

Positive peer pressure comes in different forms and make a healthy, productive and socially acceptable impression.

Peer Pressure & Mental Health

A human being is adaptive to change and flexible in different environments. From kids being influenced by parents to young aged children getting an impact of their older siblings or cousins and finally entering into adolescence and becoming vulnerable to positive but especially negative impact. Some individuals are by nature submissive and not resistant to any assertiveness, they can be easily influenced by something that may even be against their own values and norms but the impact is so strong that they find it difficult to resist. The effects of peer pressure are manifested differently in every individual. Some individuals who are low on self esteem get directly influenced by things that they want to own, this can lead to feelings of unworthiness, neediness and loss of happiness in their own possessions which in turn might cause depression. If peer pressure is negative, it can lead to low self esteem and confidence, poor academic performance sometimes or even may drift the individuals away from their own family, parents etc.

It is important to always keep your self esteem in check and educate yourself in topics like these that are underrated and absent in academic course work. Peer pressure if negative, persists and becomes an integral part of the personality. If left untreated, can cause mental health disturbances in the long run

It is always better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction. Do what you feel is right!