Hong Kong women more susceptible to stress than men, HKU mental health study finds
Research conducted between January and February surveyed 1,514 Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong residents aged 18 or older
Women in the city are more susceptible to stress than men, especially when there is pressure from health and family-related events, a University of Hong Kong study has found.
“[The study shows] that if a family member is ill, [stress] borne by a woman will be a bit more,” said Professor Eric Chen Yu-hai, research leader and head of HKU’s department of psychiatry.
“Perhaps it is because women have been playing the role of carers in our society,” Chen said.
As one in six Hong Kong people suffers from mental illness, Dr Lucy Lord talks about how the city can change its outlook
On Monday the research team called for public awareness of women’s mental health ahead of International Women’s Day on Thursday.
The study, commissioned by the department and conducted by HKU’s public opinion programme, comprised interviews between January and February with 1,514 Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong residents aged 18 or older.
More than 54 per cent of those surveyed reported one or more stressful life events in the past year.
