Well, apparently conventional wisdom has it wrong again, at least in one area of teen behavior. When it comes to decisions about sexual activity, many teens say that parental influence holds greater sway than peer pressure, according to a report from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

Asked what most strongly influenced their decisions about sex, 38 percent of teens said their parents, while 32 percent said their friends. But the survey also confirmed that many parents doubt their ability to influence their children’s decisions: 50 percent of the parents surveyed thought that friends were the strongest influence in their children’s lives.

Another survey in the upcoming issue of USA Weekend (distributed with Sunday’s Post) offers more evidence of parental influence: 80 percent of teens would confide in a parent if confronting a serious problem.

It would be foolish to discount the powerful influence that peers and the mass media have on teen-agers. But the survey results should offer some support for beleaguered parents who feel powerless against the culture’s emphasis on bare skin and casual sex. They may wonder whether it’s worth the effort to try to model responsible behavior and engage their teen-agers in discussions on difficult subjects like teen pregnancy or drinking and driving.