Science of fitting in: Do best friends or popular peers shape teen behavior?
Medical Xpress
March 2, 2026
As children enter adolescence, peers become a dominant force in their lives. With adult supervision waning, teens look to agemates for guidance on how to act, think, and fit in. But who matters most—friends or the popular classmates? A groundbreaking longitudinal study from Florida Atlantic University reveals that peer influence is not a monolithic process. Instead, different types of peers exert influence over entirely different domains of a child's life.
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Originally published on Medical Xpress on 3/2/2026