Survey: Hong Kong Secondary Students' Well-being Stagnates at 2.87/5; One in Five Struggles with Appearance Anxiety
On.cc · 5 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago4 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 . 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, conducted between November 2025 and March 2026, collected valid responses from 1,318 local secondary students, covering well-being, emotional health, life satisfaction, and appearance anxiety risk
- Well-being averaged 2.87/5, while moderate-to-severe depression, anxiety, and stress affected 17.2%, 15.2%, and 11.8% respectively, showing slight improvement from last year
- 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%)
- 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 . Clinical psychologist Jeff Kei Ching-nam from the Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service emphasized that social media and AI filters are perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards that trigger feelings of inadequacy and social withdrawal . Assistant Chief Executive Officer Scarlet Poon Fung-oi called for incorporating appearance anxiety into routine mental health screenings, better public education on virtual versus reality, and practical support for parents and teachers to help young people cope with helplessness .
The survey also found that 17.2 percent of students suffered from moderate to severe depression, 15.2 percent from anxiety, and 11.8 percent from stress . While these figures showed slight improvements from last year, the organization stressed that mental health remains a major challenge for teenagers . Girls and senior secondary students consistently reported worse emotional distress across multiple measures .
Broader Implications
As the new school year begins, the Education Bureau has been piloting a three-tier emergency mechanism for student mental health, which was expanded to upper primary levels at the end of last year . Education Bureau Director Bonnie Law reported that over the past six months, approximately 220 cases were referred to the external support network through the second tier, with 95 from upper primary schools . She noted that school principals have found the scheme helpful for both students and schools .
The Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service has proposed several recommendations, including mandatory labeling of AI-edited photos on social media platforms, introducing youth-specific algorithms that proactively push diverse aesthetic information and mental health resources when extended browsing of appearance-related content is detected . The organization emphasized that comprehensive intervention from schools, families, and society is needed to help students abandon the pursuit of perfection and shift from self-criticism to self-compassion, ultimately enhancing well-being through diverse values and positive connections .
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 . Clinical psychologist Jeff Kei Ching-nam from the Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service emphasized that social media and AI filters are perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards that trigger feelings of inadequacy and social withdrawal . Assistant Chief Executive Officer Scarlet Poon Fung-oi called for incorporating appearance anxiety into routine mental health screenings, better public education on virtual versus reality, and practical support for parents and teachers to help young people cope with helplessness .
The survey also found that 17.2 percent of students suffered from moderate to severe depression, 15.2 percent from anxiety, and 11.8 percent from stress . While these figures showed slight improvements from last year, the organization stressed that mental health remains a major challenge for teenagers . Girls and senior secondary students consistently reported worse emotional distress across multiple measures .
Broader Implications
As the new school year begins, the Education Bureau has been piloting a three-tier emergency mechanism for student mental health, which was expanded to upper primary levels at the end of last year . Education Bureau Director Bonnie Law reported that over the past six months, approximately 220 cases were referred to the external support network through the second tier, with 95 from upper primary schools . She noted that school principals have found the scheme helpful for both students and schools .
The Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service has proposed several recommendations, including mandatory labeling of AI-edited photos on social media platforms, introducing youth-specific algorithms that proactively push diverse aesthetic information and mental health resources when extended browsing of appearance-related content is detected . The organization emphasized that comprehensive intervention from schools, families, and society is needed to help students abandon the pursuit of perfection and shift from self-criticism to self-compassion, ultimately enhancing well-being through diverse values and positive connections .