High housing costs to blame for young Hongkongers’ unhappiness, survey finds
Survey finds young people in Hong Kong have difficulty moving out from home, causing conflict and social difficulties
Surging house prices and low marriage rates are responsible for young Hongkongers feeling less happy with their family well-being than their parents, researchers have found.
A survey carried out by Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Department of Applied Social Science found housing problems are making it more difficult for local youths to move out from their parents, and this can lead to family conflicts, poor social skills and even mental health concerns.
Commissioned by the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society (HKFWS), the study interviewed 1,033 residents aged 15 or above who live with their families from January to March this year.
It measured their quality of life in five catagories: family interaction, parenting, emotional well-being, material well-being and overall family well-being.
The survey showed that, on a scale from one to 100, Hong Kong scored 72 points on overall family well-being, lower than the United States on 85.
“More and more Hong Kong people tend to get married late, or are not getting married at all, meaning more adults are staying at home with their parents,” HKFWS social work consultant Wong King-lai said.
