The Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of PolyU has conducted a research to examine family relationships, family resilience and individual family members’ mental health under the effects of recent stressful events (e.g. the COVID-19 pandemic, financial hardship and changes in daily life).

Research findings show that core family members (father, mother and a child) exhibited negative symptoms of mental wellbeing, including stress, anxiety, depression, hopelessness and lowered satisfaction with life. Worryingly, family relationships appear to have deteriorated and conflicts within the family intensified as a result.

Dr Janet Leung, Associate Professor of Applied Social Sciences, and Prof. Daniel Shek, Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme), Chair Professor of Applied Social Sciences, and Li and Fung Professor in Service Leadership Education, hosted a press briefing to share the findings of their research and enhance public awareness of family resilience.

PolyU will also launch the “Jockey Club Promoting Family Resilience Project” e-learning certificate course specially designed to promote family resilience. The target audiences are parents, social workers, teachers and members of the general public. The course is free of charge. For details, please call 3400 8513.

For more details about the research, check out the following media reports:

Oriental Daily News
Ming Pao Daily News
Sky Post
Hong Kong Commercial Daily