Miller et al. [81] thus proposed that promotion of hope and optimism in school is a promising MEK162 novartis way of wellness enhancement for reducing disorders and fostering health among students.7.4. Peer InfluencesPeer support was shown to contribute to adolescents’ goal pursuit [82] and hope [83]. However, students who did not have adequate peer and family support and positive perceptions about school and oneself were more likely to have hopeless feelings [84]. Furthermore, being victimized by peers in school would also lead to social hopelessness and thus suicidal ideation, though family support could act as a buffer [85]. It indicated that having adequate social support, ranging from one to multiple networks including family, peers, and school, is pertinent for maintaining adolescents’ psychological well-being and positive development [1].

8. Cultivating Adolescents’ Beliefs in the FutureThere are several ways to foster students’ beliefs in the future. First, schools can arrange curricula-based programs [76, 77, 86, 87], since these programs were evidenced to enhance students’ hope, optimism, and well-being. These programs can focus on strengthening adolescents’ competence and resilience, such as setting up valued and attainable goals, planning primary and alternative pathways, and appraising one’s capability and effort positively. Moreover, these programs can incorporate some positive cultural values and ideologies to cultivate adolescents’ optimistic and hopeful orientation towards the future.

At the same time, schools need to develop a goal-directed learning environment and arrange more opportunities both inside and outside the classrooms for students to master the learnt skills and maintain their aspirations. Besides, developmental group work can be carried out to promote students’ beliefs in the future, when more intensive intervention is needed. Of course, materials in the curricula-based programs can be used in the group work context. In addition, specialized intervention programs such as adventure-based counseling can be attempted. All these programs require Anacetrapib the joint hands between teachers and social workers and the utilization of peers as a supportive resource.Second, career education and guidance [88] can be provided primarily by teachers and social workers, with the support of the potential mentors in the community. It not only guides students to link up school learning with one’s future career in the society, but also widens their career horizon.