Hongkongers’ happiness falls to 3-year low, survey finds, and experts warn pandemic stress and anxiety could take year to fade

The happiness of Hong Kong families has dropped to a three-year low, a poll has found, with some experts warning that residents could take up to a year to come to terms with the stress and anxiety caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Families on average reported a score of 6.57 out of 10 in the Hong Kong Family Happiness Index, compared with 6.98 last year and 7.26 in 2021, according to compiler Wofoo Social Enterprises subsidiary HK.WeCARE, which released the results of its findings on Wednesday.

The poll of 1,356 people also found that respondents aged 19 to 24 reported the largest drop in happiness, falling to 6.09 this year from 6.91 in 2022. They were followed by those between 55 and 64, whose score fell from 7.30 to 6.57.

But residents aged 65 and above recorded an increase in happiness, going from 7.33 last year to 7.37 this year.

Professor Simon Lam Ching, associate dean of research of Tung Wah College’s school of nursing, said the results for elderly residents showed they tended “to be less affected by their environment”.

“Their happiness remained stable, whether it was before, during or after the pandemic,” he said.

According to the survey, 17 per cent of respondents gave their families an index score of less than five, meaning they were “unhappy”. Lam noted the figure was almost double the 9.8 per cent recorded last year, calling the increase “concerning”.

He added that parents and those caring for family members with chronic illnesses were more likely to have mental health problems.