The findings were the result of a cross-sectional survey and an accompanying longitudinal study that polled about 1,000 students – aged 18 to 24 – from five universities on their levels of happiness and life satisfaction between 2017 and 2020.
Free mental health support amid Covid-19 offered via Mind HKThe longitudinal study, which tracked 271 university students from 2017 through January of 2020, found the level of social well-being declined by 11 per cent, from a score of 3.5 to a score of 3.1 on a six-point scale. “It is a significant decrease, but it is not really alarming,” said Kwok, who presented the findings in a Zoom conference call on Saturday.
Why feeling sad can be just as good for you as feeling happy“Other studies have also shown that university graduates are facing a multitude of challenges,” To said, “These include psychological and mental health issues, pressures on career planning and also worries over the development and future of the Hong Kong society.”
Despite the challenges, however, over 90 per cent indicated medium to high levels of emotional well-being. But 30 per cent scored low in social well-being, which broadly includes areas of social inclusion and a sense of belonging in the society.