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2006-03-25 17:32:40
CRIENGLISH.com
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Pressure has been talked about a lot amongst young white-collar workers. Many have claimed they are overly stressed by work and dealing with relationships with colleagues, but some, however, say the biggest pressure is from friends or people of about the same age.
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 (Audio available for download)Gerald has been working for a financial journal in Shanghai for five years since he graduated from college. After eight-hours work everyday, he goes to teach at night school. Although he is exhausted he says he has to do it because his friends are doing better than he is.
"Two of my friends got their MBA degrees from France, and their yearly income now stands at about 300,000 yuan, which is about three times mine. We started at the same level when we graduated from college, but it seems they are running faster than me. It puts me under a lot of pressure."
The term peer pressure is used primarily to refer to the influences experienced by children and teenagers from others in their age group, but it actually accompanies people throughout their life. People can feel peer pressure in situations from getting into a good middle school to getting a promotion.
Wang Yanmei is a psychological consultant with the Beijing based Yang Guang Hua Ren psychotherapy center.
"People tend to compare themselves with those they started with at the same level, especially the people they are familiar with. Making comparisons aids competition. It is a normal pressure most of the time."
But for some people, the pressure is a little bit too high. Gerald says he just can't stop and take a rest, beset as he is by the idea that his career is not as promising as others.
"It seems to me that they already have established careers but I'm just like those new graduates, and there is a long way to go for me before I can catch up with them."
Various surveys have found that white-collar workers are vulnerable to insomnia, indigestion and respiratory problems. Overstress at work and from the pressures and demands of life is the primary reason. Wang Yanmei says a certain amount of pressure is good to encourage people to pursue a higher goal, but it will be harmful to health when people are obsessed by the idea of competing with others.
"Some people make comparisons with others in respect of financial situations, personal development, etc. And sometimes, the pressure is too high, as these people have neglected their own efforts and their own personalities."
And sometimes the pressure from peers goes beyond individual influences. Wang Yanmei says a lot of her patients have problems with the state of being single, especially when their friends or acquaintances all get married.
"Every person grow up within a certain group, which has a lot of invisible standards, and we've known from childhood that if any of us is different from the majority, he or she will be considered as different. And the person, too, will be beset by a sense of insecurity."
Easily as it comes, peer pressure will not so easily be done with, but it all depends on how we approach the pressure, like the psychological consultant says, our attitude is the most important thing.
China Drive is one of CRI's radio programs aired from Monday to Friday. Chinastic picks the most interesting life reports from China Drive. Stay tuned.
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Director: Liu Chi 
