Encourage Teens to Focus More on Quality Over Quantity in Their Social Life.
Remember how high school felt like one big popularity contest?
While the stereotypical teen’s dream is to gather as many friends as possible, new research suggests that adolescents who take the opposite approach may have more fulfilling adult lives.
According to Quartz , Child Development magazine published a study that found that teens who reported strong, intimate relationships showed more self-esteem and less social anxiety at age 25 than their more popular peers.
Social structure has a tremendous psychological impact on adolescents (shock), and while you may view their friendships outside of your parental jurisdiction, there are ways to help them form closer bonds with a smaller circle.
Here’s how:
Explain the difference between sympathy and status
The new findings echo past research that has revealed divergences in the definition of popularity. “Likeable” students genuinely admire and trust their peers, while students seeking “status” seek to create social hierarchies that empower them. Guess which group feels safer?
Chances are, when you come to high school, your teenager may come to you with concerns about accommodation and popularity. This first conversation is the perfect time to explain the difference between earning a trusting friendship and turning an alleged friendship into a weapon for social advancement.
In the early teens, there will be a temptation to trade gossip or rumors for quick public acceptance, so point to the reward of a more patient trust path: the future of deep, meaningful friendships and lasting health.
Develop true friendships
If a close friendship seems to be developing between your teenager and a peer, do whatever you can to encourage it to develop further: invite a friend on a family vacation, encourage your child to confide in a friend during difficult times, and try to improve the relationship. bond with a friend’s parents.
Ultimately, your teen will be more grateful for this experience than for a fashion purchase that will help him climb the social ladder.
Follow the development of social construction
The downside to the study was that it began before the proliferation of smartphones and social media, which significantly changed the way teenagers communicate.
No matter what mechanisms are used to communicate, they do not go beyond the difference between “likableness” and “status.” Help your teen understand that the social interactions that take place in the digital environment are still at the core of character that can bear long-term benefits when done right.