Although tobacco advertisements would have everyone believe otherwise, smoking is definitely not just an adult activity. In 2007, half of the students in American high schools had smoked before, states the American Cancer Society, and more than a quarter of children 12 years old or younger had in 2008. Peer pressure is a major reason why young people begin smoking, and it puts more adolescents at risk than adults, according to the publication "Peer Pressure and Smoking."
Significance
Peer pressure is a fact of life during childhood and adolescence. TeensHealth defines peers as friends of similar age who share similar interests and experiences. The behavior and choices of peers can influence the behavior and choices of others in their peer group, which may have either a negative or a positive impact, depending on the circumstances. When it comes to the unsafe behavior of smoking, the connection between young people who do or do not smoke and their peers is very strong.
Effects
Social pressure from peers often makes young people do things they normally would not in order to fit in and maintain friendships. That effect of peer pressure is reflected in smoking trends among young people. For example, young people who have at least three friends who smoke are 10 times more likely to smoke than young people who have no friends who smoke, according to "Peer Pressure and Smoking" by Philip Morris USA. In contrast, 99 percent of young people who do not smoke reportedly have no friends who smoke either, which demonstrates the positive effect peers can have on one another sometimes.
Consequences
All parents should be concerned about their children and pressure from peers to smoke. Smoking is not only often difficult to quit, extremely harmful to your health and eventually deadly, but it also frequently leads to other risky behavior, including using drugs like cocaine and marijuana. Besides killing up to half of tobacco users worldwide about 15 years prematurely, according to "The Tobacco Atlas," smoking produces a high rate of persistent addiction among young people. Consequently, about 90 percent of adults who smoke routinely first began when they were 19 or younger, states the American Cancer Society.
Prevention
The easiest way to prevent pressure from peers to smoke is to not have friends who smoke. The next best thing a young person can do is learn how to resist peer pressure. Social pressure varies in intensity depending on the situation, but sometimes all you have to do is gather enough courage to say no. If simply declining does not reduce peer pressure, other strategies may help, such as leaving the area or stating your parents will find out and punish you.
Considerations
As children grow and mature, they naturally attempt to establish their independence and worry what their friends think about them, which can make it difficult for the adults in their life to prevent them from giving in to peer pressure to smoke. Yet, even when children appear to ignore what their parents say, their parents remain the biggest influence on their decisions, according to "Peer Pressure and Smoking." Parents can take advantage of that influence and help their child resist peer pressure to smoke. For instance, "Peer Pressure and Smoking" suggests getting to know your child's friends, helping him manage stress, increasing his confidence, involving him in activities to prevent boredom, setting clear boundaries and teaching him how to think independently.
References
- "Peer Pressure and Smoking"; Philip Morris USA; 2005
- "The Tobacco Atlas, Third Edition"; Dr. Omar Shafey, Dr. Michael Eriksen, Dr. Hana Ross and Dr. Judith Mackay; 2009
- American Cancer Society: Child and Teen Tobacco Use
- KidsHealth: Kids and Smoking
- TeensHealth: Peer Pressure
