Hong Kong families’ well-being levels fall, with gap between rich and poor narrowing, survey finds

It recorded an overall score of 6.06 for its family well-being index this year after it surveyed 2,014 people aged 18 or above and living with family members in January.

The score ranges from zero to 10, with 10 indicating the highest level of family well-being.

The latest score was the lowest since the two-yearly survey started in 2020, with 6.10 recorded in 2022 and 6.31 in 2020.

Society senior manager Teresa Cheung Wing-shan said 6.06 was on the low side of the average level.

“This year, 42 per cent, or nearly half of the respondents, had an average level of family well-being,” she said.

She attributed the drop to the pressure facing families as they were returning to their normal lives after the years-long coronavirus pandemic.

Cheung noted that although household income had a positive impact on family well-being levels during previous two surveys, this year’s findings indicated that those with higher monthly income recorded a downward trend.

The data showed that those with a monthly household income between HK$30,000 and HK$39,999 scored 5.95 this year, down from 6.14 in 2022, while those earning between HK$40,000 and HK$59,999 a month scored 6.24, down from 6.33 in 2022.

Cheung said the gap in the well-being level between rich and poor families had narrowed this year compared with the last survey in 2022.

The 26-item survey covered six areas concerning family well-being including family solidarity, resources and health, social connection and resources, and work-life balance.