By S. Clarke
The human mind is a wonderful thing; it has led to our modern society advancing from men bashing rocks together in caves to advanced machines surrounding us constantly. Throughout this progression, mental health has remained a constant, influencing how individuals perceive, interpret, and engage with their environments. To better understand this, we must first understand how social pressures affect people throughout their lifetime, and why it matters.
In the earliest stage of our development, we rely on those around us, mainly our parents, to instruct our behavior. We know that parenting can have outsized effects on major areas of childhood development, such as school performance, showing the importance of how parents interact with their children. However, the point of this discussion, as interesting as it would be, is not to propose a solution to parenting all children. Of course, parenting is largely determined by the unique environments and cultures individuals find themselves in. Instead, it’s simply important to acknowledge the impacts that parents can have on the social development of a child from an early age. We can see this development in how children deal with emotions, stimuli, and reward cycles. This kind of impact can drive further issues further down in life. Children who are exposed to negative interactions in their early childhood may be more likely to experience mental illness, and due to their early age, are not able to appropriately cope or report issues. This can lead to underlying issues continuing to be undocumented. Children without strong support, even if not suffering abuse, can still suffer from these issues.
As we grow up, we encounter more and more outside influences through the process of developing our own ideas about how the world functions. These outside influences can have negative effects. Norms and cultural expectations can put an expectation of uniformity to something that simply might not be possible for every individual. We can see this in the idea of “beauty standard,” which by nature simply can’t work for every person, nor can performance goals, which pressure individuals to place considerably above the average. When expectations outstrip capabilities, it can put immense pressure on people. We see this reflected in the data, with studies showing real pressures among adolescents as they enter the educational field. Of course, these pressures can lead to increased academic performance, but as with everything in life, the cost to the child and greater society has to be appropriately weighed against any perceived advantages and cannot simply be taken for granted.
This does not mean all forms of social pressure cause harm. Studies have also shown the importance of developing strong social connections. We can help build support and foster greater resilience. We can all likely think of examples of both good and bad forms of social influences, whether from friends, family, or strangers. These kinds of interactions are not as easy to disconnect from negative pressures, especially when they originate from family systems, cultural expectations, or social stigma surrounding mental health. The truth is reality is hopeful, but it’s messy. Dealing with these issues is a slow process, but that’s okay. Addressing mental health challenges is often gradual, requiring time, support, and adaptive coping strategies. We can see social interactions playing out in greater numbers of people who shift online to gain connections.
Unfortunately, while many report greater numbers of online friends, the quality of these connections may often be less supportive than real-life ones. Further adding on to this, the ease of online bullying, both in terms of perpetration and in which individuals can be exposed to it, might add to existing mental strains. This has resulted in an increase in harmful coping mechanisms, with some reporting indulging in substances or developing mental disorders. In order to counteract this, children can be encouraged to gain independent social connections while minimizing pressure to only that which is constructive and reasonable to their development.
While childhood is centrally a volatile and important time for social support, this kind of need does not simply end as we get older. When we are trying to develop our own path. It may become an extremely stressful time in our lives, creating high levels of mental illness among those between the ages of 25 and 30. Social stigma can also be high during this stage of life, as individuals face increased scrutiny from peers and society for their actions. Also, raising children can cause stress on parents as well, with increased social support being seen to lower rates of postpartum depression. Social support comes from both our family and friends, but it is not always easy for everyone to develop strong social networks. It’s important to remember that just because social support can help prevent and lessen the impact of mental illness, it is not the only factor at play. A wide range of other predictors, such as income level, as well as access to mental care, should be acknowledged in how we deal with the mental health crisis.
Mental health remains important in later life, though it is often overlooked. If you’ve ever talked to an elder, you’ve likely felt or heard mention of some of the causes. Bodily changes can lead to stress, combined with a reported lack of purpose because of retirement or inability to perform the same tasks as when young. Some people like to say that wisdom grows with age, but so do the stresses accumulated over a lifetime. Societal effects such as ageism and loneliness also add to this. Elderly people may need to have the same expectation of mental care as those in younger groups in order to receive proper care.
Mental health is a lifelong concern, shaped by social influences at every stage of development. From early childhood to later adulthood, the quality of social interactions and support systems plays a significant role in shaping well-being.
Recognising this encourages a more compassionate and informed approach to how we engage with others. Small actions, such as checking in, offering support, or simply listening, can contribute meaningfully to someone’s sense of connection and resilience.
References
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Herbert, E. (2024, February 19). Unmasking the dangers of peer pressure on young people. The Children’s Society. Retrieved April 30, 2026, from https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/blogs/unmasking-the-dangers-of-peer-pressure-on-young-people
NIH. (2024, 9). Mental Illness – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved April 30, 2026, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
Noelle, L., & al, e. (2025, 4 19). A multi-method exploratory study of stress, coping, and substance use among high school youth in private schools. Frontiers. Retrieved 4 30, 2026, from https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01028/full.
WHO. (2025, October 8). Mental health of older adults. World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved April 30, 2026, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-of-older-adultsWickramaratne, P. J. (2022, 9 13). Social connectedness as a determinant of mental health: A scoping review. pmc.ncbi. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9560615/
Editorial Note: This article was developed by a Cohort 1 intern at the Discover Psychology Foundation and is featured in the Editorial Internship Exhibition.
