'We're not Sheep': Illuminating the nature of the adolescent peer group in effecting lifestyle choice

This study investigates adolescent peer leadership in the context of health and social education affecting lifestyle choice. Cognate studies are summarised and reviewed and the study reported here is referenced to prior work in this area. The paper reports on a case study of a single school during the first stage of a two-stage study. Interview data illuminate how adolescent peer group members influence and shape the dynamics of the peer group and are in turn influenced by it. This is constructed from the perspectives of the pupils themselves. It is concluded that, while prior research identifies peer leaders who influence the lifestyle choices of members of the reference group, peer leadership is essentially an adult concept. Peer leadership as such is not acknowledged by adolescents as they reflect on and make sense of the social realities of life reflected within the peer group.