Peer Pressure and Parents

[Howard Hartman]

HHS HealthBeat August 15, 2012 Peer pressure and parents Listen to Tip Interested? Take the Next Step Teens face peer pressure to use drugs and alcohol. Have a cigarette, it’s just one. Want a beer? Influences on what teens do often comes from their friends, but parents have big roles. Researchers interviewed high school freshmen and sophomores, asking them about their substance use, their friends – and their parents’ discipline behaviors and knowledge of their social lives. Michael Cleveland at the Prevention Research Center at Penn State University grouped students based on their friends to find: “Substance use was lowest for those teens whose parents were knowledgeable and consistent, and who also had friends whose parents were knowledgeable and consistent.” Parents should be aware of their teen’s whereabouts. They can also keep track of who their teens are friends with and get to know the parents of those other kids. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Peer pressure and parents 08/15/2012 01:01 AM EDT Directories of HHS Accounts U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services · 200 Independence Avenue SW · Washington DC 20201 · 1-877-696-6775