Young People and Peer Pressure

Drunk young girls

As some young people get older, the influence of parents wanes, and a desire to be popular and to be accepted by peers grows strong. Others simply feel a need to talk with someone who “understands” or who will make them feel loved. This might be caused by a lack of self-confidence and feelings of insecurity.

Boys and girls smoking 

On the other side of the coin, peer influence is not necessarily bad. In fact there is a proverb (Proverbs 27: 17) which says: Iron sharpens another iron. So one man sharpens the face of another.” Just as an iron knife can sharpen the dulled edge of another knife, fellowship with other young people can ‘sharpen’ your personality and make you a better person-if those peers have mature, healthy attitudes.

The sad part of the story is that most young people are lacking in maturity- both mental and spiritual. Many youths have view points and opinions that are unsound, unreliable and even reckless. So when young people comes under the control of peers, it is like the blind leading the blind. In Mathew 15: 14 the bible says that if one blind person guides another, they will both fall in a pitch.

Responsible young people can have the ability to escape the snare of peer pressure. This can be achieved by some youth who carefully choose their friends. An association of a young person with those who have Christian values and standards limits friendships.

Youths who take their pride in listening parents have greater chances of resisting peer pressure. This is found in Proverbs 23: 22 when the bible says, “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother’s experience when she is old.” Once a young person fails to listen to his/her father and mother, the life of that person can be in tatters.

Boys and girls smoking

Primary school pupils smoking