全文结束!再见ostudywhetherexperiencesduringteenyearswouldinfluenceadulthealth.Sotheyfollowed171teens,startingwhenthekidswerejust13.Theyinterviewedeachoneeveryyearforfiveyears,andalsospoketotheseteens’closestfriends,whoprovidedadditionalinformationaboutthequalityoftheirfriendships.Thesame171peoplewereinterviewedagainatages25,26and27.Thistime,thequestionssurveyedeachperson’soverallhealth.Whentheresearchersanalyzedthedata,theyfoundastrongconnectionbetweenateen’sbehaviorandadulthealth.Teenswhohadclosefriendsgrewuptobethehealthieradults.Whetherteensheldbacktheirfeelingsorexpressedthemtoclosefriendsalsoinfluencedlaterhealth.Thosewhoheldbacktheirfeelingsweremorelikelytobesickasadults.Theconnectionheldupevenafterthescientistsaccountedforotherpossibleinfluencesonhealth.Weight,familyincomeanddrugusewereallexamined.Sowerementalhealthissues,suchasanxietyanddepression.Andinthesepeople,suchotherfactorsdidnotexplainadulthealthaswellasteenfriendshipsdid.Gettingalongwiththecrowdmayhavebenefits,saysAllen,buttherearealsodrawbacks.Teenswhoaremoreindependenttendtodobetteratschoolandwork.Andpeerpressuremayleadsomekidstoengageinriskybehavior,suchassmoking,drinkingorusingdrugs.Dealingwithitisanongoingchallenge,Allenacknowledges.“Findingtherightbalanceisthekey.Teensshouldn’tloseheartfornotfindingthiseasy.”And,headds,“Parentsneedtobeunderstandingaboutthepressuresteensface.”