Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-27-2012
Abstract
A caring and loving relationship between parents, and parents’ respect for children’s views and privacy are what Hong Kong children value the most in defining their happiness. While financial well-being is clearly important, it is far less important than having a warm, loving family that promotes effective communication and avoids strongly worded rebukes and disciplinary actions, according to the results of the latest happiness survey conducted by the Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS) of Lingnan University.
This study was commissioned by the Early Childhood Development Research Foundation and sponsored by Henderson Land Group. Conducted between November 2011 and January 2012, the survey covered 1,025 senior primary school and junior secondary school students aged between 8 and 17 from 14 primary schools and 15 secondary schools. Where possible, the sampled data was paired up with data provided by one of the child’s parents for analysis.
Like previous surveys, Happiness is found to be crucially determined by Love, Insight, Fortitude and Engagement (collectively known as the “LIFE scores”), each of which is measured on an 11-point scale from 0 to 10. If the child loves the parents and enjoys good relations with his/her parents (Love); if the child has a good sense of balance and understand success more in terms of achieving one’s potential than in terms of specific outcomes (Insight); if the child is able to face adversity (Fortitude); and if the child is actively engaged (Engagement), he or she will most likely be happy.
Children’s Love score can be attributed to a good relationship between the father and mother, parents’ respect for children’s opinions and privacy as perceived by the children, as well as parents’ attention to their children’s academic performance and extra-curricular activities. Together these factors contribute to over 63% of the child’s Love score.
嶺南大學公共政策研究中心最新的快樂指數調查結果顯示，父母恩愛、能尊重孩子的意見和私隱，均是香港兒童認為決定自己快樂程度的三大重要因素。儘管家庭經濟狀況也很重要，但其重要程度遠低於溝通良好、能避免惡言口角和懲罰行為的融洽家庭氣氛。
是次調查由香港嬰幼兒發展研究基金會委託進行，並獲得恆基兆業地產集團資助。調查於2011年11月至2012年1月進行，訪問了1,025名年齡介乎8至17歲的小學高年級與中學低年級學生，分別來自14所小學及15間中學。只要情況許可，受訪學生的數據已與其一名家長提供的數據作配對分析。 一如以往的快樂指數調查，快樂程度取決於四項因素──「關愛」（Love）、「智慧」（Insight）、「堅毅」（Fortitude）及「行動」（Engagement），總稱為「LIFE分數」。每項因素均按0至10分由低至高評核。如果受訪兒童喜歡父母，與雙親關係良好（「關愛」）；認同均衡發展，明白成功在於發揮所長，而不是計較成績（「智慧」）；能夠面對逆境（「堅毅」）；積極付諸實踐（「行動」），則快樂的機會愈高。 父母之間的關係、在孩子眼中父母是否尊重自己的意見和私隱，以及父母對孩子學業和課外活動的關注，均會影響兒童的「快樂」分數。此三項合計，共佔兒童「關愛」分數的63%。
Summary of Key Findings
Recommended Citation
Ho, L. S. (2012). Children and happy growing up = 香港學童快樂地成長嗎? 2012. Retrieved from http://commons.ln.edu.hk/hkhi_children/2/