Social support serves as a ‘protective’ factor to buffer the effects of stress on individuals. Besides, it can enhance psychological well-being. For youth, social support is especially important for their growth and development and can be provided by parents, siblings, other family members, close friends, school-mates, school teachers and counsellors.
Local Statistics on Social Support among Youth
(1) Proportion* of youth aged 15 to 19 who can count on someone for emotional support in the 12 months before enumeration by sex, in 2003/04
|
|
Can count on someone
|
Cannot count on someone
|
Don’t need help
|
Don’t know / no response
|
|
Male
|
56.4%
|
12.0%
|
18.4%
|
13.2%
|
|
Female
|
73.5%
|
7.3%
|
11.9%
|
7.4%
|
|
Overall
|
64.8%
|
9.7%
|
15.2%
|
10.3%
|
Base: Respondents aged 15 to 19
* The proportion is expressed as a percentage of the population in the respective age-sex groups.
(2) Source of emotional support of youth aged 15 to 19 who could count on someone in the 12 months before enumeration by sex, in 2003/04
|
Source of support
|
Proportion* of youth aged 15 to 19 who could count on someone for emotional support
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
Overall
|
|
Friends
|
79.0%
|
90.0%
|
85.1%
|
|
Parents
Father
Mother
|
47.0%
|
47.1%
|
47.1%
|
|
37.4%
|
20.4%
|
27.9%
|
|
44.4%
|
44.5%
|
44.5%
|
|
Siblings
Brother
Sister
|
21.1%
|
26.2%
|
24.0%
|
|
15.2%
|
9.6%
|
12.1%
|
|
9.4%
|
19.1%
|
14.8%
|
|
Neighbour
|
1.1%§
|
0.3%§
|
0.7%§
|
|
Others#
|
23.2%
|
23.4%
|
23.3%
|
Base: Respondents aged 15 to 19 who could count on someone for emotional support in the 12 months before enumeration
Multiple answers were allowed.
* The proportion is expressed as a percentage of the population in the respective age-sex groups.
# “Others” cover sources of support other than friends, parents, siblings and neighbour.
§ This estimate was compiled based on a very small sample. Readers are advised to interpret this estimate with caution.
Note:
- The percentages may not be added up to 100% due to rounding.
Source of data:
Population Health Survey 2003/2004. Hong Kong SAR: Department of Health.