Effects of Peer Pressure on Teen Body Image - Research Paper Example

? EFFECTS OF PEER PRESSURE ON TEEN BODY IMAGE Introduction Peer pressure is a manipulation that an observer, individual or peer group , exerts to encourage other people to change their values, behaviors, or attitudes to comply with group rules, standards, and laws. Some of groups socially affected include membership and dissociative groups. Where individuals in membership groups are social cliques, or formally members in which there is no clear membership definition. On the other hand, in dissociative groups, members do not associate thus behaving adversely to the behaviors of the group (Ata, et al., 2007). Peer influence and body image In the period of adolescence, a number of teens put a lot of concern about their body images. It is in this period where the youths start comparing their body images with those of their friends. It is important for the teens to have positive body images. This is because positive body images bring healthy self-esteem that helps the teens to feel and think positively about their bodies (Krones, Stice, Batres, & Orjada, 2005). Body image can be explained as how a youth feels and thinks about his/her body. It can also include the body picture that the youths have in their minds that match or do not match their actual body size and shape (Krones, Stice, Batres, & Orjada, 2005). The teens’ body images are strongly affected by their feelings. In youths at teenage, the connection between self-esteem and body image is specifically pronounced because of the strong call to look a certain way or to fit and intense peer pressure. When youths get unsatisfied with their body size and images, teens may develop some body image issues where the teens lose too much weight and even overeat due to stress (Botta, 2009). Youths are a strongly influenced by their peers over how the teens feel and think about themselves. The peers do not realize how their negative comments and teasing can be more hurting and negatively influencing to their friends. Putting new clothes and hairstyles influence the teens to make some statements about themselves (Perry, & Kendler, 2002). This will make the teens to discover their interests and value. Fashion statement is also another safe way of practicing independence. According to Botta (2009), peer pressure is mostly associated with youths. This is because youths spend most of their time in schools where the youths at teenage end up involving themselves in different groups which are not of their choice since youths are not mature enough to control pressure from their friends. Peer pressure may also have positive impacts when the youths are put under pressure toward positive behaviors like athletics, excelling in academic, or volunteering for charity by their peers (Ata, et al., 2007). This is so common in youths who are very active in sports or other activities which are extracurricular, where there is a very strong conformity between the youths and their peer group. Social Media and Body Image Another factor that influence majority of the youths is media. This media present very narrow beauty interpretations thus; viewing these unattainable images reduces body satisfactions and self-esteem in healthy teenagers. The new research is timed at researching and investigating how teen’s body is affected by the media, life satisfaction of the youths, and the eating disorders symptoms in youths at teenage (Botta, 2009). Although it has some positive impacts to the teenagers, media has a big negative influence on youths and especially on the youths’ weight. Being a time for growth and learning, this stage of adolescence can be too difficult to some of the youths. However, to some teens it can be the easy time to handle. Also for others, it is a revelation of ideas and new experiences. While struggling with the difficulties, and this stressful time of teenage to discover themselves, teens can be adversely affected together with those around them (McCabe, & Ricciardelli, 2001). Along this time of adolescent, teens develop a lot of concern over their body image and are curious of wanting to deep understand how they can achieve desired body images. Nevertheless, a number of teens will consult to achieve this image where they go to media (Ata, et al., 2007). This in turn deceives the teens that this process of adolescence often concerns their physical image that media influence. During this stage, the adolescents may feel not satisfied with shapes of their body and take steps to change them. At this age of growth and learning (adolescence), teens do not like their images when look themselves in the mirror and a number of them will start reporting dissatisfaction with their shapes (Ata, et al, 2007). Nevertheless, girls struggle with their body images more than boys do. Some attention to size and shape of body is considered to be a normal growing process. Effects of Media Programs on Body Image Scantily dressed idols in some TV station, movies, and in magazines portray the beauty ultimate standard. Unfortunately, as many youths at teenage do not identify this as a mere fantasy that is impossible for them to live within these standard, a number of them can lose their mood and be depressed (Krones, Stice, Batres, & Orjada, 2005). In some occasions, some of the youths at this teenage may end up being victims in anorexia bulimia among other eating disorders , which can lead to mental health if not controlled. These eating disorders affect the teenagers’ bodies’ image thereby becoming thin and reduce in weight (Maggs, Jennifer, Hurrelmann, & Klaus, 1998). Magazines, television, movies, and other media that are popular are often responsible in pressuring teen girls who tries to be thin like models. However, the new study has found that peer pressure has replaced these Media and is now playing a very strong role in how girls in adolescent stage control their body figures. It is claimed that peer pressure has been a factor in contributing to a risky teen behavior. In accordance to other studies, cliques teens identified with can influence whether they drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or take drugs (Ata, et al., 2007). Now, it appears that comparable identification carry body weight when some factors like body image, physical activity, and food are considered. It is asserted that teenagers especially girls are more concerned about their weight, appearance, and physical attributes. Besides, the groups of teenagers’ decision regarding body weight or physical look are influenced by their peers, thereby behaving in unrealistic manner (Botta, 2009). An estimation of about 5% of teens undergoes the problem of eating disorders. Some of these eating disorders include; nervosa, anorexia, and bulimia. In the study that was published in the Adolescent Medicine and Archives of Pediatric has an indication that 10% of girls at teenage and 3% of boys at teenage binge eat not less than once a week (Maggs, Hurrelmann, & Klaus, 1998). Girls seem to be more concerned than boys when it comes to dieting, and are more worried with their weight. Also with thinness, girls report a greater percentage than boys. According to ‘federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’, about 1/3% of adolescents are found to be overweight while about 16% are obese (Perry, & Kendler, 2002). Those added pounds are placed at increased in risk a health problem hot from high blood and type-2 diabetes to heart disease. Girls who identify themselves with burnout peer groups are most worried of their weight. They decide to go ahead and take more steps to control it. On the other hand, those with overweight also go ahead to find alternatives on how to control their over mass body weight. Moreover, encouraging family meals can help solve the problem in teens’ eating habits (Krones, Stice, Batres, & Orjada, 2005). Teens from families who come together during food time have lower risks of developing these eating disorders and especially anorexia and bulimia (Maggs, Hurrelmann, & Klaus, 1998). Psychological effects of peer pressure It is fact that youths can be bully and mean. The youths who get teased about their body weight are more pertinent to having symptoms of depression, low self-esteem, and a very poor body image. Every youth have the desire of having friends. However, the obese teens have a feeling of loneliness and isolation. Peer pressure is claimed to be the center of physical effects among the obese teens and thus self-esteem among them is very low (Perry, & Kendler, 2002). This makes the teens to employ food as their zone of comfort where, most of these foods contain high calories, sugar and fat. This feeling of isolation will make the teens to be inactive or less active and thus exercise is compromised for them to retain their body weight and image. Due to peer pressure, the psychological effects on the teens affect their healthy and body image by a very big percentage which can result to very serious medical problems (Botta, 2009). The youth’s years are all about being more independent, growing up, and socialization. Peer pressure in teens is the main issue whether they experience weight problems or not. This is the main reason why the obese teenagers can be devastated psychologically and losing weight which leads to poor body image. Nevertheless, there are many ways in which parents can help their children to solve their physical problems during this period of adolescence including easing the psychological stress among their children at teenage. They should engage their teens in open dialogues especially when it comes to eating habits because most of times the teens over eat when they are depressed and this can affect their body image (Krones, Stice, Batres, & Orjada, 2005). Through exercise, proper, emotional healing and proper weight can help the teens overcome obesity at the period of adolescent and maintain their body image. However, when the teens improve their physical appearance and solve their body weight problems, their body image and self-esteem will be restored. Therefore, youths should not have ignorance on their physical effects and thus they should observe care during their period of adolescence. References Ata, R. N., Ludden, A. B., & Lally, M. M. (2007). The effects of gender and family, friend, and media influences on eating behaviors and body image during adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36, 1024–1037. Botta, R. A. (2009). Television images and adolescent girls’ body image disturbance. Journal of Communication, 49(2), 22-41. Krones, P.G., Stice, E., Batres, C., & Orjada, K. (2005). In vivo comparisons to a thin-ideal peer promotes body dissatisfaction: A randomized experiment. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 38(2), 134-142. Maggs, Jennifer L., Hurrelmann, & Klaus. (1998). Peer Pressure and Beauty. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 22(2), 367-398. McCabe, M. P., & Ricciardelli, L. A. (2001). Parent, peer and media influences on body image and strategies to both increase and decrease body size among adolescent boys and girls. Journal of Adolescence, 36(142), 216–225. Perry, C. & Kendler, S. (2002). Models for effective prevention. Journal of Adolescent Health, 13: 355-363. Read More