H K U G A C o l l e g e L i b e r a l S t u d i e s

C 5 L 4 L i f e S k i l l s P a g e | 1

Adolescents Responses to Challenges of Transition to Adulthood
a. Negative responses
Avoidance of / Escaping from social expectations and pressures
Resort to substance abuse, online games, smoking, alcohol, gambling etc. to release stress
Commit suicide

b. Positive responses: acquisition of life skills to meet challenges
i. **Coping with adversity how? To develop resilience ()
1. Manage negative emotions
2. Increase sense of competence (analyse why adversities occur and draft practical action
plans to cope with them)
3. Build support network to obtain encouragement and resources to implement action plans
(peer support, parental support etc.)

ii. Emotional management Important for maintaining emotional stability; coping with adversity
and maintain good interpersonal relationships how?

1. ABC theory of emotional management: A activating event, B belief, C consequences.
Reflect on what makes you angry, anxious, sad, guilty etc. and challenge your perception
or beliefs of those activating events

2. Calm down by temporarily stay away from people or things involved in the activating
event, drink water, or taking deep breaths

iii. **Interpersonal skills important for developing and maintaining good and harmonious
interpersonal relationships how?
1. Develop *empathy () and mutual understanding
2. Develop effective communication skills: use simple and direct word; make use of non-
verbal communication (e.g. eye contact); listen attentively and give appropriate feedbacks;
manage our emotions well (avoid losing temper); give appropriate feedbacks
3. *Conflict resolution skills:
- Deal with conflicts together
- Respect both parties and appropriate emotional management
- Direct communication
- Seek help from a third party to settle
disagreement
- Conflict resolution styles
Avoid -
Compete -
Collaborate -
Accommodate () -
Compromise ()
H K U G A C o l l e g e L i b e r a l S t u d i e s
C 5 L 4 L i f e S k i l l s P a g e | 2

After class exercise: Read the reference book p. 35-42 to learn other important life skills

Life skills Methods Importance
Goal Setting 1. Understanding of ourselves
2. Set specific, measureable, achievable, rewarding and
time-limited (SMART)
3. Break goals into long term and short term goals
4. Evaluate and modify goals
Giving a sense of
purposes, direction,
and motivation in life
Time
management
1. Plan time
2. Strictly fulfill the tasks set in timetable
3. Prioritize tasks (finish what is important and urgent)
Complete tasks on
time; gain sense of
control over life
Financial
management
1. Draw budget allocating money for consumption,
saving and investment
2. Record expenses and control expenses (avoid credit card
debts)
3. Develop saving habits for unexpected expenses
4. Invest wisely, not to speculate (high risk investment)
Achieve financial
independence,
development of
financial self-
discipline
Stress
management
1. Identify the sources of stress
2. Evaluate current methods of coping with stress (are they
healthy (exercises, sports ) or unhealthy? E.g. drinking,
smoking)
3. Learn healthier ways to manage stress: avoid the
stressor (say NO to anything beyond your limit); alter
the stressor (e.g. better time management)
Avoid overloading;
feeling in control of
ones life