When most parents think of peer pressure, they picture their babies cornered at parties, being offered drugs or alcohol. But that isn't always the case. There's positive peer pressure as well--such as when your teen's friends encourage her to join the soccer team or help mow the lawn for an elderly neighbor.

New research shows that both types of peer pressure--positive and negative--are beneficial to children's social development. Peer pressure teaches teens how to gauge other people's feelings and expectations--and how to weigh those against their own wants and needs.
The study isn't suggesting that teens should always give in to peer pressure. It found that teens who felt both negative and positive peer pressure--and occasionally gave in when the risks were low--were more socially successful as adults. They learned how to read other people and how to accommodate others, which are important components in adult relationships.

On the other hand, teens who always avoided peer pressure turned out to be less engaged socially. Those who didn't care what anyone thought of them became more aloof, disconnected adults, and were less adept at being considerate of people's feelings.

Encourage your teen to stick to her beliefs and values. But remind her to mind the balance between being able to stand up to a friend and still preserving the friendship.

Reprinted with permission from the March 2010 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (High School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2010 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, "Teens Who Feel More Peer Pressure Turn Out Better, Not Worse," NurtureShock: Newsweek, http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/nurtureshock/archive/2009/08/22/teens-who-feel-more-peer-pressure-turn-out-better-not-worse.aspx.