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Jeanette Wang

Money and self-induced pressure are the two major causes of stress among people in Hong Kong, according to an international survey.
These are the same top sources of stress in all 22 countries and territories polled by Germany-based international market research company GfK.
Lack of time, insufficient sleep and too much work round off the top five sources of stress for the 1,003 Hongkongers polled.
A total of 27,000 people aged 15 and over participated in the online survey carried out worldwide over the summer.
The mainland, however, recorded different results. The two major causes of stress there were self-induced pressure and insufficient sleep. Parents were also in the top five major causes of stress.
More than a third of Hongkongers surveyed said they were relatively stress-free - higher than in most other places.
Respondents were given a list of 14 possible causes of stress and were asked to "indicate which of these things are a major cause of stress in your life". Multiple answers were allowed.
Overall, 29 per cent of people surveyed cited the amount of money they have to live on, making this the leading major cause of stress internationally. This was followed by the pressure that people put upon themselves (27 per cent) and not getting enough sleep (23 per cent).
The good news is that overall, 30 per cent of those surveyed were relatively stress-free, saying none of the listed factors counted as a major cause of stress - although many rated them as minor causes of stress. Nearly half of Japanese respondents rated themselves relatively stress-free. Germans came next, with 44 per cent in this category, followed by those from the Netherlands and Hong Kong with 37 per cent.
Hong Kong psychiatrist Dr Au Yeung Kwok-Leung said: "It is surprising that the rate of Hong Kong people who reported no pressure is 37 per cent. Good security and lack of crime and threats may be a reason. However, some unique stress factors in Hong Kong are not included in the study, such as living place, pollution and politics."
The major causes of stress were found to change with age. People aged 15 to 39 reported the same five major stress factors as those surveyed overall. Those aged 40 and above saw their workload as less of a major stress factor, but instead placed health in their top five.
Those aged 50 and over highlighted taking care of a family member who is ill, elderly or has other problems, while those over 60 referred to worries about threats such as natural disasters or terrorism.


Money, self-pressure stress Hong Kong residents, international survey finds

Lack of time, insufficient sleep and too much work are also factors for stressed Hongkongers. Photo: SCMP Pictures


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Lack of sleep and time plus work are other factors, but survey finds surprisingly that more in city are stress-free than in many other places


Money, self-pressure stress Hong Kong residents, international survey finds

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Lack of sleep and time plus work are other factors, but survey finds surprisingly that more in city are stress-free than in many other places

Lack of sleep and time plus work are other factors, but survey finds surprisingly that more in city are stress-free than in many other places