Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Subjective Well-Being of Early Adolescents in Hong Kong

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong

Part of the book series: Quality of Life in Asia ((QLAS,volume 5))

Abstract

There is a pressing need to learn more about the subjective well-being of adolescents because it is an important indicator of the quality of life in adolescence. Utilizing a three-wave longitudinal study with 1-year time interval, the subjective well-being of adolescents in the junior secondary school years in Hong Kong was examined. Measures of subjective well-being (life satisfaction and hopelessness) and school adjustment indicators (academic and school competence, perceptions of the new school curriculum, and participation in tutoring activities) were explored in this study. Six major observations were highlighted from the findings. First, factor analysis showed that life satisfaction and hopelessness were two separable dimensions of subjective well-being. Second, life satisfaction was negatively related to hopelessness concurrently and longitudinally. Third, the negative correlation between life satisfaction and hopelessness was stronger for adolescent girls than for adolescent boys. Fourth, while academic and school competence positively predicted life satisfaction, it negatively predicted hopelessness. Fifth, life satisfaction, hopelessness, and academic and school competence influenced students’ perceptions of the new school curriculum, with academic and school competence to be the strongest predictor. Finally, time spent in tutoring was positively related to the hopelessness of the participants.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abramson, L. Y., Metalsky, G. I., & Alloy, L. B. (1989). Hopelessness depression: A theory-based subtype of depression. Psychological Review, 96(2), 358–372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T., Weissman, A., Lester, D., & Trexler, L. (1974). The measurement of pessimism: The hopelessness scale. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42(6), 861–865.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolland, J. M. (2003). Hopelessness and risk behaviour among adolescents living in high-poverty inner-city neighbourhoods. Journal of Adolescence, 26(2), 145–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradley, R. H., & Corwyn, R. F. (2004). Life satisfaction among European American, African American, Chinese American, Mexican American, and Dominican American adolescents. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 28(5), 385–400.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cantor, N., Norem, J. K., Niedenthal, P. M., Langston, C. A., & Brower, A. M. (1987). Life tasks, self-concept ideals, and cognitive strategies in a life transition. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53(6), 1178–1191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan, B. (2006). No brain drain, please. Hong Kong: South China Morning Post Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J. J. (2005). Relation of academic support from parents, teachers, and peers to Hong Kong adolescents’ academic achievement: The mediating role of academic engagement. Genetic, Social & General Psychology Monographs, 131(2), 77–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chow, H. P. (2008). The determinants of life satisfaction: High school students in Regina. The Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 54(4), 477–481.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Castro, B. V., & de Guzman, A. B. (2014). From scratch to notch understanding private tutoring metamorphosis in the Philippines from the perspectives of cram school and formal school administrators. Education and Urban Society, 46(3), 287–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E. (2009). Assessing subjective well-being: Progress and opportunities. In E. Diener (Ed.), Assessing well-being (pp. 25–65). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Lucas, R. E. (2003). Personality, culture, and subjective well-being: Emotional and cognitive evaluations of life. Annual Review of Psychology, 54(1), 403–425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eccles, J. S. (1999). The development of children ages 6 to 14. The Future of Children, 9(2), 30–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilman, R., & Huebner, E. S. (2006). Characteristics of adolescents who report very high life satisfaction. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35(3), 293–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Han, X. Y., & Shek, D. T. L. (2012). Socio-demographic and family correlates of hopelessness among adolescents in Shanghai, China. International Journal on Disability and Human Development, 11(2), 113–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hankin, B. L., Mermelstein, R., & Roesch, L. (2007). Sex differences in adolescent depression: Stress exposure and reactivity models. Child Development, 78(1), 279–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heisel, M. J., & Flett, G. L. (2004). Purpose in life, satisfaction with life, and suicide ideation in a clinical sample. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 26(2), 127–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S. (2004). Research on assessment of life satisfaction of children and adolescents. Social Indicators Research, 66(1–2), 3–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S., Antaramian, S. P., Hills, K. J., Lewis, A. D., & Saha, R. (2011). Stability and predictive validity of the Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale. Child Indicators Research, 4(1), 161–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolarcik, P., Geckova, A. M., Reijneveld, S. A., & van Dijk, J. P. (2012). Social support, hopelessness and life satisfaction among Roma and non-Roma adolescents in Slovakia. International Journal of Public Health, 57(6), 905–913.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwan, Y. K. (2010). Life satisfaction and self-assessed health among adolescents in Hong Kong. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11(3), 383–393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leung, J., & Leung, K. (1992). Life satisfaction, self-concept, and relationship with parents in adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 21(6), 653–665.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leung, C. Y. W., McBride-Chang, C., & Lai, B. P. Y. (2004). Relations among maternal parenting style, academic competence, and life satisfaction in Chinese early adolescents. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 24(2), 113–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, A. D., Huebner, E., Malone, P. S., & Valois, R. F. (2011). Life satisfaction and student engagement in adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40(3), 249–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, H. C. W., Chan, S. L. P., Chung, O. K. J., & Chui, M. L. M. (2010). Relationships among mental health, self-esteem and physical health in Chinese adolescents: An exploratory study. Journal of Health Psychology, 15(1), 96–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Long, R. F., Huebner, E. S., Wedell, D. H., & Hills, K. J. (2012). Measuring school-related subjective well-being in adolescents. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 82(1), 50–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, R. E., Diener, E., & Suh, E. (1996). Discriminant validity of well-being measures. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71(3), 616–628.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, M. D., Huebner, E. S., Hills, K. J., & Van Horn, M. L. (2013). Mechanisms of change in adolescent life satisfaction: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of School Psychology, 51(5), 587–598.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma, C. Q., & Huebner, E. S. (2008). Attachment relationships and adolescents’ life satisfaction: Some relationships matter more to girls than boys. Psychology in the Schools, 45(2), 177–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKnight, C. G., Huebner, E. S., & Suldo, S. (2002). Relationships among stressful life events, temperament, problem behavior, and global life satisfaction in adolescents. Psychology in the Schools, 39(6), 677–687.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, J., Bidjerano, T., Ă–zdoÄźru, A. A., Kao, C. C., Ă–zköse-Biyik, Ç., & Johnson, J. J. (2007). What do they usually do after school? A comparative analysis of fourth-grade children in Bulgaria, Taiwan, and the United States. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 27(4), 431–456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noddings, N. (2003). Happiness and education. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, S., Morash, M., & Stevens, T. (2010). Gender differences in predictors of assaultive behavior in late adolescence. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 8(4), 314–331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavot, W., Diener, E., Colvin, C. R., & Sandvik, E. (1991). Further validation of the satisfaction with life scale: Evidence for the cross-method convergence of well-being measures. Journal of Personality Assessment, 57(1), 149–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Proctor, C., Linley, P., & Maltby, J. (2009). Youth life satisfaction: A review of the literature. Journal of Happiness Studies, 10(5), 583–630.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pun, S. S. (2013). The politics of hope and cynicism in the realization of the vision of the 334 education reform in Hong Kong. Asia Pacific Education Review, 14, 55–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roeser, R. W., Eccles, J. S., & Freedman-Doan, C. (1999). Academic functioning and mental health in adolescence patterns, progressions, and routes from childhood. Journal of Adolescent Research, 14(2), 135–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudolph, K. D., & Flynn, M. (2007). Childhood adversity and youth depression: Influence of gender and pubertal status. Development and Psychopathology, 19(2), 497–521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schunk, D. H., & Pajares, F. (2002). The development of academic self-efficacy. In A. Wigfield & J. Eccles (Eds.), Development of achievement motivation (pp. 16–31). San Diego, CA: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L. (1992). “Actual-ideal” discrepancies in the representation of self and significant-others and psychological well-being in Chinese adolescents. International Journal of Psychology, 27(3), 229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L. (1993). Measurement of pessimism in Chinese adolescents: The Chinese Hopelessness Scale. Social Behavior and Personality, 21(2), 107–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L. (1997). The relation of parent-adolescent conflict to adolescent psychological well-being, school adjustment, and problem behavior. Social Behavior and Personality, 25(3), 277–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L. (1998). A longitudinal study of the relations between parent-adolescent conflict and adolescent psychological well-being. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 159(1), 53–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L. (2005). Perceived parental control processes, parent-child relational qualities, and psychological well-being in Chinese adolescents with and without economic disadvantage. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 166(2), 171–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L. (2007). A longitudinal study of perceived parental psychological control and psychological well-being in Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 63(1), 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L. (2008). Economic disadvantage, perceived family life quality, and emotional well-being in Chinese adolescents: A longitudinal study. Social Indicators Research, 85(2), 169–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., & Lee, T. Y. (2007). Family life quality and emotional quality of life in Chinese adolescents with and without economic disadvantage. Social Indicators Research, 80(2), 393–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., & Liu, T. T. (2014). Life satisfaction in junior secondary school students in Hong Kong: A 3-year longitudinal study. Social Indicators Research, 117(3), 777–794.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., & Yu, L. (2012). Longitudinal impact of the project PATHS on adolescent risk behavior: What happened after five years? The Scientific World Journal, 2012, 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suh, E., Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Triandis, H. C. (1998). The shifting basis of life satisfaction judgments across cultures: Emotions versus norms. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(2), 482–493.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suldo, S. M., & Huebner, S. E. (2006). Is extremely high life satisfaction during adolescence advantageous? Social Indicators Research, 78(2), 179–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, R. C., & Shek, D. T. L. (2012). Positive youth development, life satisfaction and problem behaviour among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong: A replication. Social Indicators Research, 105(3), 541–559.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tam, V. C., & Chan, R. M. (2010). Hong Kong parents’ perceptions and experiences of involvement in homework: A family capital and resource management perspective. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 31(3), 361–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taris, T. W. (2000). A primer in longitudinal data analysis. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Telzer, E. H., & Fuligni, A. J. (2013). Positive daily family interactions eliminate gender differences in internalizing symptoms among adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42(10), 1498–1511.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tusaie, K., Puskar, K., & Sereika, S. M. (2007). A predictive and moderating model of psychosocial resilience in adolescents. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 39(1), 54–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valois, R. F., Zullig, K. J., Huebner, E. S., & Drane, J. W. (2004). Life satisfaction and suicide among high school adolescents. Social Indicators Research, 66(1–2), 81–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vecchio, G. M., Gerbino, M., Pastorelli, C., Del Bove, G., & Caprara, G. V. (2007). Multi-faceted self-efficacy beliefs as predictors of life satisfaction in late adolescence. Personality and Individual Differences, 43(7), 1807–1818.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu, F., Ware, R. S., Lap, A. T., Wang, Z., Hong, X., Song, A., et al. (2012). A school-based comprehensive lifestyle intervention among Chinese kids against obesity (CLICK-Obesity): Rationale, design and methodology of a randomized controlled trial in Nanjing city, China. BMC Public Health, 12(1), 316–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeo, L. S., Ang, R. P., Chong, W. H., & Huan, V. S. (2007). Gender differences in adolescent concerns and emotional well-being: Perceptions of Singaporean adolescent students. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 168(1), 63–80.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The preparation for this work and the Project P.A.T.H.S. were financially supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Hong Kong

    Daniel T. L. Shek Ph.D., B.B.S., S.B.S., J.P. & Xiang Li Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Daniel T. L. Shek Ph.D., B.B.S., S.B.S., J.P.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiang Li Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel T. L. Shek Ph.D., B.B.S., S.B.S., J.P. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Department of Applied Social Sciences, Hunghom, Hong Kong SAR

    Daniel T.L. Shek

  2. The University of Hong Kong Faculty of Education, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

    Rachel C. F. Sun

  3. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Hong Kong SAR

    Cecilia M.S. Ma

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Shek, D.T.L., Li, X. (2014). Subjective Well-Being of Early Adolescents in Hong Kong. In: Shek, D., Sun, R., Ma, C. (eds) Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong. Quality of Life in Asia, vol 5. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-143-5_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation