Hongkongers frowning deeper as happiness index shows decline
Happiness among young people saw the sharpest drop, with many feeling as though their lives had no sense of purpose
Hongkongers feel the unhappiest in a decade, particularly younger people, as they are upset by the ill-fated political reform and confrontational society, according to a survey by two Hong Kong universities.
The Hong Kong Happiness Index Survey, conducted by the Faculty of Business of Chu Hai College and Lingnan University in September over 920 people, saw the index fall to 67.6 in 2016 - on a scale of zero to 100 - from 70.0 last year.
It is the lowest since 2007’s figure of 67.2.
The decline impacted all age groups, but those aged 29 and below saw the widest decline, falling from 69.3 in 2015 to 63.8, the lowest score in the last 10 years.
When asked whether “life was really worth living” – a life with a sense of meaning or purpose – the 29 and below age category saw a sharp decline.
Principal investigator of the survey, Chu Hai College dean of business Professor Ho Lok-sang, attributed the decline to dissatisfaction with political reform, a highly confrontational society or young people focusing on matters beyond their control.