Maintaining a balance: The powerful influence of friends

Diya Boyapati

From taking a certain AP class to picking out a dress for a party, friends shape beliefs, values and behaviors through both direct and indirect means. They are crucial in forming personal identity, improving cognitive health and shaping personalities.

Friends influence how an individual communicates, dresses and behaves around others.

For instance, according to the National Library of Medicine, if an introvert joins an extroverted group, they could find themselves becoming more outgoing as well. Additionally, as reported by the British Broadcasting Company, an analysis of 28 different studies with a total of 139,000 participants revealed that talking about anti-smoking campaigns with friends actually reduced smokers’ cigarette intake. Research has also shown that friends can shape one’s personality through more subtle means, such as by influencing beliefs and values, which in turn can also affect behavior and the decisions one make.

An increasing number of studies suggest that friends are crucial in promoting overall health. Mayo Clinic found that adults with strong social connections have a reduced risk of health problems generosity, diligence and openmindedness can positively influence people’s overall well-being and their interactions with others. Making choices that are consistent with core values can also lead to greater satisfaction and health.

Peer pressure stems from the innate human desire to conform to group norms, and it is particularly influential during adolescence— when the brain’s reward system is more sensitive to social cues, making people more likely to engage in risky behavior to gain social acceptance. A 2009 study published by the American Psychological Association found that adolescents with friends who engaged in risky behavior were more likely to engage in those behaviors themselves, even after controlling for other factors such as parental monitoring and individual personalities.

“Once, I was out with my friends at night and we were playing games in the street; my parents had told me my curfew was 11:00 p.m., but as we were in the middle of a game, my friends convinced me to ignore the curfew. I lost track of time and found my mom had called me multiple times. I later realized that my parents were very worried regarding my whereabouts, which got me in a lot of trouble,” Junior Juhi said.

In a lifestyle essay published by Mayo Clinic, experts discuss how to maintain a balanced and boundaries while communicating expectations and considering the advice of friends as suggestions rather than directives. Practicing empathy, understanding and forgiveness will also help to keep relationships healthy. By balancing personal needs with those of friends, people can ensure that their relationships will flourish while still maintaining control of their own life.

“I look for someone I can be comfortable with or someone loyal and I usually seek out people with similar ideologies. My friends and I support each other by being there for each other when needed,” Sophomore Vedika Byakod said.

Friends can serve as role models, provide support and guidance and