This type of productive arguing — in which the teen tries to persuade his or her mother with reasoned arguments rather than pressure, whining or insults — seemed to influence the teen’s interactions with their peers as well.

“The healthy autonomy they’d established at home seemed to carry over into their relationships with peers,” study researcher Joseph Allen, of the University of Virginia, said in a statement.

Even if mom and teen disagree, strong, supportive mothering is also of key importance in resisting peer pressure. “It may be that teens who are secure in their ability to turn to their mothers under stress are less likely to end up feeling overly dependent upon their close friends, and thus less likely to be influenced by their friend’s behavior when it’s negative,” Allen said.