Abstract
Methods: Sixty-seven female adolescents (12–19 years) and 11 key informants, recruited from urban and rural areas from Sari in the North of Iran using non-probability sampling, participated in eight focus group discussions and semi structured interviews. All tape-recorded data was fully transcribed and thematic analysis was done to identify key themes.
Results: Qualitative content analysis demonstrated five original categories related to importance of peer group in adolescents health including:Acceptance in peer group, Support from friends, Providing the appropriate conditions for healthy relationships with the opposite sex, Positive patterns of friendship and Avoiding from unfavorablefriends.
Conclusion: Peers can have either positive or negative effects on adolescent’s health. To have the most positive impact on adolescent health, parents and community organizations must work together in a comprehensive approach.
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