Hong Kong family happiness falls to 6-year low; post-coronavirus stress still affecting well-being, researchers say
- Annual survey of family happiness registers fall for third year in a row to 6.43 out of 10, researchers find
- People aged 65 or over log biggest year-on-year drop in family happiness, down from 7.37 out of 10 to 6.5
The survey, which asked people to rate how happy their family was on a scale of zero to 10, registered a fall for the third year in a row to 6.43, and the lowest score since the first poll using the same format was conducted in 2019, when the score was 6.89.
About 55.7 per cent of the 1,316 respondents to the survey by HK.WeCARE, a concern group under Wofoo Social Enterprises and the Lee Kum Kee Family Foundation, reported a rating of seven and above in the family happiness index, a drop of 5 percentage points on last year.
Those aged 65 or more recorded the most significant year-on-year drop in their family happiness, from 7.37 to 6.5.
Another index that measured their personal happiness also fell, down from 7.29 to 6.63.
“They cannot be solved overnight like turning off a switch.”
Researchers for the survey, carried out every year since 2018, except for 2020 because of the coronavirus, found that family well-being could be affected by the individual happiness of members.
The team found that if respondents were not happy themselves, they were less likely to feel positive about the contentment of their families.
The average score for personal happiness in the survey dropped from 6.81 in 2021 to 6.2 this year.
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Hong Kong ranked 86th among 143 countries and regions in the World Happiness Report released by the United Nations last week.
Its rating in the UN poll has also slipped over the past three years, down nine places from 77th in 2021.
Researchers said they believed the significant drop in the scores among elderly people was related to the trend towards emigration in recent years.
“Many people have emigrated from Hong Kong to other countries in the past few years, leaving behind elders who need support,” Chak Tung-ching, the director of Hong Kong Christian Service and the Wofoo community service network steering committee, said.
“Apart from that, seniors might have a lack of resources to cope with the post pandemic situation and face increasing carers' responsibilities, such as the need to take care of their partner and grandchildren,” he added.
Hong Kong number to remember during stressful times
Simon Lam-ching, a professor and associate dean of the school of nursing at Tung Wah College, said good communication was the key to happier families and relationships.
“We found that when disagreement arises in a Hong Kong family, not enough people will try to discuss the problem openly,” Lam added. “Men tend to avoid communication more often than women.”
The family happiness index survey is part of a family-focused campaign by Wofoo Social Enterprises.
The group plans to hold a no-phone dining challenge in more than 20 restaurants from July, when families dining without their electronic devices can get a discount.
It will also hold a Hong Kong Happiness Summit from December 17-18.
