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HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 71

Explain how both family relationships and peer interactions influence adolescent development during the identity formation stage.    (5 marks)

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Family relationships provide the foundation for identity development during adolescence (typically ages 12-18) through:

  • Emotional and physical security that allows adolescents to take risks in identity exploration.
  • Parenting styles that balance support with appropriate autonomy.
  • Transmission of initial values and beliefs that form the basis for self-concept.

Peer interactions shape identity formation through:

  • Social comparison processes that help refine self-perception.
  • Opportunities to experiment with different social roles and behaviours.
  • Feedback on identity choices through acceptance or rejection.

The dynamic interplay between these influences creates:

  • Different contexts for identity exploration.
  • Sometimes conflicting messages that adolescents must reconcile.
  • A balanced identity that integrates values from both family and peer spheres.
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*PEEL – Solution is structured using an adjusted PEEL method to show cause and effect: [P] State the cause/factor [E] Show how it causes the effect [Ev] Evidence demonstrating why/how [L] Reinforce the causal relationship.

**Language highlighting the cause-effect relationship is bolded in the answer below.

  • [P] Family provides emotional security for identity exploration.
  • [E] This enables adolescents to take risks and try new identities.
  • [Ev] This happens when supportive parents allow teenagers to try new interests like joining drama clubs or make new friend groups without fear of rejection.
  • [L] This shows a clear connection between family stability and confident self-discovery.
     
  • [P] Peer feedback shapes self-perception.
  • [E] This causes adolescents to modify behaviours for acceptance.
  • [Ev] As a result, teenagers adopt clothing styles or music preferences matching their friend group to help them belong.
  • [L] This demonstrates why peer approval directly influences identity choices during adolescence.
     
  • [P] Conflicting family-peer values create identity tension.
  • [E] This leads to adolescents developing independent thinking skills.
  • [Ev] This occurs because teenagers must choose between parents’  expectations and friends’ social priorities, which helps form lasting personal values.
  • [L] These elements work together to produce unique identities balancing both influences through individual decision-making.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 054

Compare and contrast how peer influence affects young people's health behaviours today with how it affected previous generations, using specific examples to support your answer.   (6 marks)

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Similarities

  • Both past and present generations rely heavily on peer influence for validating health behaviours (e.g. 1960s youth smoking together at social gatherings vs. today’s youth vaping because of social media trends).
  • Peers remain more influential than parents in both eras (e.g. 1970s teens joining protest movements despite parental disapproval vs. today’s teens following TikTok health challenges).
  • The fundamental need for peer acceptance continues to drive decision-making (e.g. 1980s fashion conformity within school cliques vs. today’s pursuit of social media likes and followers).

Differences

  • Previous generations experienced localised, face-to-face peer influence limited by geographic boundaries, while today’s youth experience global, constant digital influence through social media platforms.
  • Modern peer influence operates 24/7 through digital devices with greater permanence, whereas previous generations had intermittent influence limited to physical interactions.
  • Today, 80% of young people identify peers as their primary health information source (Mission Australia, 2023), whereas previous generations relied more on family and medical authorities.
  • Previous generations experienced greater parental filtering of peer influences, while today’s youth navigate more independent peer relationships online with less parental supervision.
  • Today’s digital focus on unattainable body standards and risky behaviours has intensified negative health impacts beyond what previous generations faced.
Show Worked Solution

Similarities

  • Both past and present generations rely heavily on peer influence for validating health behaviours (e.g. 1960s youth smoking together at social gatherings vs. today’s youth vaping because of social media trends).
  • Peers remain more influential than parents in both eras (e.g. 1970s teens joining protest movements despite parental disapproval vs. today’s teens following TikTok health challenges).
  • The fundamental need for peer acceptance continues to drive decision-making (e.g. 1980s fashion conformity within school cliques vs. today’s pursuit of social media likes and followers).

Differences

  • Previous generations experienced localised, face-to-face peer influence limited by geographic boundaries, while today’s youth experience global, constant digital influence through social media platforms.
  • Modern peer influence operates 24/7 through digital devices with greater permanence, whereas previous generations had intermittent influence limited to physical interactions.
  • Today, 80% of young people identify peers as their primary health information source (Mission Australia, 2023), whereas previous generations relied more on family and medical authorities.
  • Previous generations experienced greater parental filtering of peer influences, while today’s youth navigate more independent peer relationships online with less parental supervision.
  • Today’s digital focus on unattainable body standards and risky behaviours has intensified negative health impacts beyond what previous generations faced.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 050

Outline TWO ways in which peer influence acts as both a risk factor and TWO ways in which it can act as a protective factor for the health of young people today.   (4 marks)

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  • Peer influence can act as a protective factor when peers support each other in avoiding negative health behaviours, such as not smoking or not misusing drugs.
  • A second way peers can demonstrate a protective behaviour is through supporting their friends suffering from mental health issues. 
  • Conversely, peer influence can be a risk factor when peers encourage risky behaviours like dangerous driving.
  • Additionally, when young people prioritise peer values over family values, this can create conflict and negatively impact family relationships.
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  • Peer influence can act as a protective factor when peers support each other in avoiding negative health behaviours, such as not smoking or not misusing drugs.
  • A second way peers can demonstrate a protective behaviour is through supporting their friends suffering from mental health issues. 
  • Conversely, peer influence can be a risk factor when peers encourage risky behaviours like dangerous driving.
  • Additionally, when young people prioritise peer values over family values, this can create conflict and negatively impact family relationships.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 043 MC

How has peer influence on young people changed over time?

  1. Peer influence is less important to modern young people.
  2. The sources of peer influence have changed but its importance remains.
  3. Previous generations did not experience peer influence.
  4. Peers now have less influence compared to family.
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\(B\)

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  • B is correct. Peer influence has remained very important although sources have changed. For example, technology has removed geographical boundaries between peer communications.

Other options:

  • A and C are incorrect as peers have remained a consistent and important influence on young people over time.
  • D is incorrect as research is clear that peers are more influential than family.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 040 MC

According to Mission Australia's 2023 Youth Survey, what did young people identify as their most valuable source of support?

  1. Parents
  2. Health professionals
  3. Friendships
  4. Teachers
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\(C\)

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  • C is correct. Research, including Mission Australia in 2023, consistently shows that peer support is identified by young people as their most important area of support.

Other options:

  • A, B and D are all incorrect. While each group can be very important for support, none rate as highly as friendships (primarily peer support).