Friendships for Young Adults
Friendships can be fantastic, but they also can be tough at times. The main thing to remember is that good friends support you, respect you, and like you for who you really are!
What are true friends?
True friends
- Want you to be happy
- Care what you have to say
- Encourage and support you
- Accept you for who you are
- Are happy for you when you do well
- Apologize when they make a mistake
- Give you advice in a caring way
- Keep personal things between the two of you
- Don't pressure you to do things that make you feel uncomfortable
How can I handle peer pressure?
Peer pressure is when you do something because friends talk you into it or because you think everyone else is doing it. It can be hard to resist peer pressure. Try to remember that real friends stand by you even if you say "No."
When it's time to stand up for what you believe, be assertive. That means you calmly and politely say what you want (or don't want). You don't need to criticize what the other person is doing. Just keep it simple, like "No, thanks."
If you're having trouble handling peer pressure, talk to your parents or a trusted adult. Not sure how to start? You could ask them if they ever had to handle peer pressure when they were young.
How can I cope with cliques?
It's natural to have a group of friends who share things in common, but a clique is a group of friends that is very picky—and even mean—about who can join it. If you are being left out by a clique, try to make friends with people who care about you. It feels good to be liked for who you really are!
How can I handle a fight with a friend?
You won't always agree with friends. That's natural. However, you should always respect each other's thoughts and feelings.
Sometimes, a conflict can really hurt or last a long time. How can you cope? Think about whether your friendship is healthy and worth trying to save. If so, you can try some of these give-and-take ideas and tips for dealing with conflict:
- Be assertive. Ask for what you want respectfully.
- Don't be aggressive. You don't try to get what you want by threatening or hurting the other person.
- Try to negotiate. This means both people trade ideas about what to do or how to handle an issue.
- You can compromise. That means each of you gives up a bit of what you want to come to an agreement on an issue.
When should I end a friendship?
Sadly, not all friendships last a lifetime. Sometimes friends just grow apart naturally. Sometimes you might need to end a friendship. Signs you should end a friendship include that the person
- Is mean to you or treats you badly
- Tells your secrets
- Often goes after someone you are dating or like
- Does not want you to have other friends
- Does not listen to you
- Pushes you to do dangerous things
- Blames you for problems in his or her life
- Often tries to control what you do
How do you end a relationship? Sometimes, you can just stop being in touch with your friend. That's a good idea if the person has been emotionally or physically abusive. Other times, a direct talk with the other person is better. That way, your friend won't be confused about what's happening. Also, if you point out the problem, you give the person a chance to change.
Office on Women's Health (OWH), GirlsHealth. (Updated 2015, November 2). Friendships. Retrieved June 12, 2024, from https://www.girlshealth.gov