A senior clinical psychologist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) is urging young people to harness peer pressure as a positive force, saying it plays a decisive role in shaping identity and behaviour during adolescence.

Ms. Akua Afriyie Addae of the KNUST Counselling Centre said peer influence, often viewed negatively, can be redirected to support healthy development among the youth.

Speaking on Kessben TV’s Mmaa Nkabi programme on the topic “Understanding Student Peer Pressure,” she explained that peer pressure is largely driven by developmental changes, including physical and hormonal shifts.

“It’s the period of ‘Who am I?’ and they begin to look for role models among their peers,” she said.

She noted that the desire for acceptance and praise often pushes young people to repeat certain behaviours.

“Young people’s reward centre is very active. It’s not that they’re going mad, they are going through changes,” she said.

Ms. Addae said the frequent tension between parents and adolescents is often rooted in a growing desire for independence.

“He thinks he needs to be in charge of his own affairs. If you don’t learn how to deal with it, you’ll lose him or her,” she said.

She urged parents to consciously guide their children through the teenage and young adult years, stressing that early upbringing plays a crucial role in shaping future behaviour.

“We have to be very careful about the way we teach the child right from the beginning,” she said.

She also called for particular attention to be given to girls, noting that self-worth development can influence the environments they seek.

“She forms her self-worth and may seek spaces where she feels accepted,” she said.

Ms. Addae encouraged parents to seek support from school counsellors when necessary to better navigate the challenges associated with adolescence.