China is among two markets where the population experienced a decline in total well-being last year, according to a survey conducted by fitness apparel-maker Lululemon Athletica. The Chinese, however, continued to have the world’s highest well-being score at 75 per cent, topping the average of 66 per cent for all 10 markets polled by the Vancouver-based company. It conducted an online poll of 10,000 respondents, aged at least 18 years old, in October and November, just before the more transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus was first reported in South Africa in late November. This is the survey’s second edition after its launch in 2021. Lululemon, Samsung snap up prime space as Hong Kong rent falls Mainland China and Hong Kong have since been grappling with flare-ups of Covid-19 infections involving the more transmissible strain. Beijing and the city have imposed stringent measures including multiple-day lockdowns to stem the spread of the coronavirus. “China ranked overall highest in well-being for the second year in a row – year over year they’re wrestling with the same things impacting well-being across the globe,” Gareth Pope, senior vice-president, Asia-Pacific at Lululemon, said in an emailed interview. “Key factors impacting well-being in China are similar to what we see globally.” Asian workers want to ditch suits for T-shirts, shorts, yoga pants, survey says The research viewed well-being as defined by three core elements – physical, mental and social well-being. An individual would feel their best if they had a good balance of these elements. “Chinese citizens are more likely to use a number of top coping strategies, which leads to higher well-being. [These include] getting enough sleep, being physically active and taking breaks throughout the day,” Pope said. Overall, the global well-being index rose by one percentage point last year from 65 per cent in 2020, with South Korea showing the biggest improvement of 3 percentage points. Besides China, whose well-being grade slipped by 4 percentage points, Australia was the other market whose score declined, decreasing by 3 percentage points. Lululemon bets on China after revenue more than doubles during pandemic The French and Singaporeans had the second highest score at 68 per cent each, followed by Americans at 67 per cent. On the other hand, the Japanese had the worst well-being score of 61 per cent, although it was an improvement of 1 percentage point from a year earlier. “We’ve seen various phases of the pandemic since it started, and the global well-being report helps to offer guidance and insights that can be applied to well-being during challenging times. That is no different even with the recent lockdowns in Hong Kong and mainland China,” Pope said.