Survey: Hong Kong Secondary Students' Well-being Stagnates at 2.87/5; One in Five Struggles with Appearance Anxiety
On.cc · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service released findings from its "2026 Secondary Student Well-being Survey" on January 30, revealing that local secondary students' overall well-being score stands at 2.87 out of 5, maintaining a generally average level comparable to the previous year. The survey, conducted between November 2025 and March 2026, collected valid responses from over 1,300 local secondary students . More than one-fifth (22.8%) of respondents were classified as high-risk for appearance anxiety, reaching levels that warrant professional attention, with girls accounting for 33% of this group .
Key Points
- The survey covered well-being, emotional health, life satisfaction, and appearance anxiety risk across 1,300+ secondary students in Hong Kong
- Well-being averaged 2.87/5, while moderate-to-severe depression, anxiety, and stress affected 17.2%, 15.2%, and 11.8% respectively
- Girls scored 17.08 on appearance anxiety (40-point scale) versus boys at 12.56; senior secondary students averaged 15.51 compared to junior secondary's 13.xx
- Top appearance anxiety behaviors included checking appearance (34.3%), ruminating over appearance causes (24.9%), and concealing features (23.xx%)
- Social exhaustion averaged 2.21/5, with girls (2.31) and senior students (2.27) reporting higher scores than boys and junior students
Why It Matters
Professor Chan Ka-shing from the Education University's Department of Psychology explained that students experiencing appearance anxiety tend to avoid social situations or engage in constant appearance monitoring, leading to social exhaustion and perpetuating a cycle where they desire connection yet fear being seen . The findings suggest that without intervention, appearance anxiety could severely undermine Hong Kong youth's mental health and social development, making early screening and parental support critical .
Professor Chan Ka-shing from the Education University's Department of Psychology explained that students experiencing appearance anxiety tend to avoid social situations or engage in constant appearance monitoring, leading to social exhaustion and perpetuating a cycle where they desire connection yet fear being seen . The findings suggest that without intervention, appearance anxiety could severely undermine Hong Kong youth's mental health and social development, making early screening and parental support critical .