How Friends Shape Feelings of Safety in Teens

Teens often feel safe or unsafe based on their surroundings. Past research has looked at how individual or a few risks from friends affect teens' feelings of safety. However, there is not much information on how multiple risks from friends together influence these feelings. Also, the ways these risks and feelings of safety connect are not well understood. This study looked at how multiple risks from friends affect teens' feelings of safety. It also explored how belief in oneself and support from others play a role. The study involved 3037 teens from middle and high schools in Henan province, China. Their average age was about 15. These teens filled out surveys about their backgrounds, risks from friends, belief in themselves, support from others, and feelings of safety. The risks from friends included things like being rejected or not fitting in with peers. The results showed that multiple risks from friends significantly lower teens' feelings of safety. These risks also lower belief in oneself, which then reduces feelings of safety. Perceived social support plays a different role in each part of this process. High support can boost the positive effect of belief in oneself on feelings of safety. However, this protective role is limited when teens face many risks from friends. This study is the first to show how multiple risks from friends harm teens' feelings of safety. It also shows how belief in oneself and support from others play a role. The findings suggest ways to help improve teens' feelings of safety. The study highlights the importance of addressing multiple risks from friends. It also shows the need to build belief in oneself and provide support from others. Schools and communities can use these findings to create programs that help teens feel safer. By understanding these connections, adults can better support teens. This study provides a starting point for more research on this topic. It also offers practical ideas for helping teens. By focusing on these areas, teens can feel more secure and supported.