How do peers offer emotional support?

Peers, and especially friends, provide both emotional support and a sense of identity, and they also help adolescents understand that THEY AREN'T THE ONLY ONES going through the sometimes confusing changes that occur during this period (Wentzel, 2009; Troutman & Fletcher, 2010; Jordan, 2006). Students tends to select friends and seek emotional support from those who are similar in gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, academic orientation, and long term goals (Peters, Cillessen, Riksen-Walraven, & Hasalager, 2010; Witvliet, van Lier, Cuijpers, & Koot, 2010). This makes sense, since we all tend to gravitate towards OTHERS WHO ARE LIKE US. For example, when Paul's kids were in high school, they described themselves as "band nerds", since they tended to hang out with other students in the band. And Don's daughter, a volleyball player tended to associate with other athletes.