Resilience as a positive youth development construct : Conceptual bases and implications for curriculum development

Literature and research studies indicate that resilience is crucial for the healthy development of the adolescent. With the objective to enhance the level of resilience among Secondary 1 to 3 students in Hong Kong, a curriculum was designed to strengthen both the internal and external protective factors basing on the literature and practitioners' practice wisdom. Internal protective factors focus on problem-solving skills, emotional control and divergent thinking. One aspect of students' personal competence, i.e., the sense of humor and optimism, will also be targeted. This curriculum also aims to develop students' future-driven orientation so as to strengthen their ability to overcome everyday obstacles. Moreover, activities are included to help students recognize and improve two major external protective factors, i.e., family and school relationships. This article contributes to the formulation of a service construct and provides a direction for curriculum planning that assists adolescents to develop resilience through a change in individual and structural conditions. It has to be noted that other components of the Positive Youth Development Program would also benefit the students with increasing their level of resilience. ©Freund Publishing House Ltd.