Skip to content
Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter March 27, 2013

Developmental issues of university students in Hong Kong

  • Daniel T.L. Shek EMAIL logo and Boris P.M. Cheung

Abstract

Four domains of developmental issues of university students in Hong Kong are examined in this paper. First, behavioral and lifestyle problems of university students are identified, including alcohol consumption, Internet addiction, cyber-pornography, irregular sleep patterns, and interpersonal violence. Second, the mental health problems of university students, including suicidal ideation, depression and anxiety problems, are outlined. Third, issues on self-determination (including establishment of personal goals), self-confidence, and materialism of the students are reviewed. Fourth, issues related to students’ connection to the society, including egocentrism and civic engagement, are discussed. The views of employers about university graduates in Hong Kong are also examined. With the emergence of developmental issues among Hong Kong university students, it is argued that promoting the psychosocial competencies of university students via positive youth development programs is an important strategy in addressing such issues.


Corresponding author: Professor Daniel T.L. Shek, PhD, FHKPS, BBS, JP, Chair Professor of Applied Social Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Room HJ407, Core H, Hunghom, Hong Kong, P R China, E-mail:

References

1. Shek DTL, Ma HK, Sun RCF. A brief overview of adolescent developmental problems in Hong Kong. ScientificWorldJ 2011;11:2243–56.10.1100/2011/896835Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

2. Shek DTL, Wong KK. Do adolescent developmental issues disappear overnight? Reflections about holistic development in university students. ScientificWorldJ 2011;11: 353–61.10.1100/tsw.2011.5Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

3. Shek DTL, Sun RCF, Chui YH, Lit SW, Yuen W, et al. Development and evaluation of a positive youth development course for university students in Hong Kong. ScientificWorldJ 2012. Available at http://dx.doi.org:10.1100/2012/263731. Accessed on 20 January, 2012.Search in Google Scholar

4. Griffiths S, Lau JTF, Chow JKW, Lee SS, Kan PY, et al. Alcohol use among entrants to a Hong Kong university. Alcohol Alcoholism 2006;41:560–5.10.1093/alcalc/agl047Search in Google Scholar PubMed

5. Kim JH, Chan KWC, Chow JKW, Fung KP, Fong BYF, et al. University binge drinking patterns and changes in patterns of alcohol consumption among Chinese undergraduates in a Hong Kong university. J Am Coll Health 2009;58:255–65.10.1080/07448480903295318Search in Google Scholar PubMed

6. Kim JH, Lau CH, Cheuk KK, Kan P, Hui HLC, et al. Brief report: predictors of heavy Internet use and associations with health-promoting and health risk behaviors among Hong Kong university students. J Adolesc 2010;33:215–20.10.1016/j.adolescence.2009.03.012Search in Google Scholar PubMed

7. Cooper A, Scherer C, Boies S, Gordon B. Sexuality on the Internet: from sexual exploration to pathological expression. Prof Psychol-Res Prac 1999;30:154–64.10.1037/0735-7028.30.2.154Search in Google Scholar

8. Lam CB, Chan DKS. The use of cyberpornography by young men in Hong Kong: some psychosocial correlates. Arch Sex Behav 2007;36:588–98.10.1007/s10508-006-9124-5Search in Google Scholar PubMed

9. Goodson P, McCormick D, Evans A. Sex and the Internet: a survey instrument to assess college students’ behavior and attitudes. Cyberpsychol Behav 2000;3:129–49.10.1089/109493100315987Search in Google Scholar

10. Fisher WA, Barak A. Internet pornography: a social psychological perspective on internet sexuality. J Sex Res 2001;38:312–23.10.1080/00224490109552102Search in Google Scholar

11. Taylor DJ, Lichstein KL, Durrence HH. Insomnia as a health risk factor. Behav Sleep Med 2003;1:227–47.10.1207/S15402010BSM0104_5Search in Google Scholar PubMed

12. Goldstein TR, Bridge JA, Brent DA. Sleep disturbance preceding completed suicide in adolescents. J Consult Clin Psychol 2008;76:84–91.10.1037/0022-006X.76.1.84Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

13. Sing CY, Wong WS. Prevalence of insomnia and its psychosocial correlates among college students in Hong Kong. J Am Coll Health 2010;59:174–82.10.1080/07448481.2010.497829Search in Google Scholar PubMed

14. Tsai PS, Wang SY, Wang MY, Su CT, Yang TT, et al. Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI) in primary insomnia and control subjects. Qual Life Res 2005;14:1943–52.10.1007/s11136-005-4346-xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

15. Tsui YY, Wing YK. A study on the sleep patterns and problems of university business students in Hong Kong. J Am Coll Health 2009;58:167–76.10.1080/07448480903221418Search in Google Scholar PubMed

16. Chan KL, Tiwari A, Leung WC, Ho HWY, Cerulli C. Common correlates of suicidal ideation and physical assault among male and female university students in Hong Kong. Violence Vict 2007;22:290–303.10.1891/088667007780842766Search in Google Scholar PubMed

17. Straus MA. Prevalence of violence against partners by male and female university students worldwide. Violence Against Women 2004;10:790–811.10.1177/1077801204265552Search in Google Scholar

18. Yam CP. With intense pressure 40% of university students thought of death. Wen Wei Po. 18th May 2010. Available from: http://paper.wenweipo.com/2010/05/18/ED1005180001.htm. Accessed on 20 January, 2012.Search in Google Scholar

19. Robert RE, Chen YW. Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among Mexican-origin and Anglo adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psych 1995;34:81–90.10.1097/00004583-199501000-00018Search in Google Scholar PubMed

20. Song Y, Huang Y, Liu D, Kwan JSH, Zhang F, et al. Depression in college: depressive symptoms and personality factors in Beijing and Hong Kong college freshmen. Compr Psych 2008;49: 496–502.10.1016/j.comppsych.2008.02.005Search in Google Scholar PubMed

21. Radloff LS. The CES-D Scale: a self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Appl Psychol Meas 1997;1:385–401.10.1177/014662167700100306Search in Google Scholar

22. Wong JGWS, Cheung EPT, Chan KKC, Ma KKM, Tang SW. Web-based survey of depression, anxiety and stress in first-year tertiary education students in Hong Kong. Aust NZJ Psych 2006;40:777–82.10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01883.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

23. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Annual report of the general health questionnaire (2007–08). Hong Kong: Student Affairs Office, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2007.Search in Google Scholar

24. Hong Kong Tertiary Institutions Health Care Working Group. Research showed that roughly half of university students in Hong Kong have anxiety problems (Press Release). Hong Kong: Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 2007.Search in Google Scholar

25. Breakthrough Youth Research Archives. Survey on learning and personal goals of university students (Press Release in Chinese on 30th July 2006) 2006.Search in Google Scholar

26. De Dreu C, Van de Vliert E, editors. Using conflict in organizations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1997.10.4135/9781446217016Search in Google Scholar

27. Tjosvold D, Nibler R, Wan P. Motivation for conflict among Chinese university students: effects of others’ expertise and one’s own confidence on engaging in conflict. J Soc Psychol 2001;141:353–63.10.1080/00224540109600557Search in Google Scholar PubMed

28. Richins ML, Dawson D. A consumer values orientation for materialism and its measurement: scale development and validation. J Consum Res 1992;19:303–16.10.1086/209304Search in Google Scholar

29. Kasser T. The high price of materialism. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 2002.10.7551/mitpress/3501.001.0001Search in Google Scholar

30. Stone DN, Wier B, Bryant SM. Reducing materialism through financial literacy. The CPA Journal 2008;78:12–4.Search in Google Scholar

31. Burton BK, Farh J, Hegarty WH. A cross-cultural comparison of corporate social responsibility orientation: Hong Kong vs. United States. Teaching Business Ethics 2000;4:151–67.10.1023/A:1009862130160Search in Google Scholar

32. Carroll AB. A three-dimensional conceptual model of corporate social performance. Acad Manage Rev 1979;4:497–506.10.2307/257850Search in Google Scholar

33. Redding SG. The spirit of Chinese capitalism. Berlin: W. de Gruyter, 1990.10.1515/9783110887709Search in Google Scholar

34. Pillutla MM, Farh J, Lee C, Lin Z. An investigation of traditionality as a moderator of reward allocation. Group & Orgazational Management 2007;32:233–53.10.1177/1059601106288067Search in Google Scholar

35. University Students in Hong Kong lack social commitment. Apple Daily. 2003 Dec 22. Available from: http://www1.hk.apple.nextmedia.com/ci.php?ref=http://www1.hk.apple.nextmedia.com%2Ftemplate%2Fapple%2Fart_main.php%3Fiss_id%3D20031222%26sec_id%3D4104%26art_id%3D3742528. Accessed on 20 January, 2012.Search in Google Scholar

36. Pryor JH, Hurtado S, Deangelo L, Blake LP. The American freshmen: national norms for fall 2009. Los Angeles, CA: Higher Education Research Institute, UCLA, 2010.Search in Google Scholar

37. Chong D. Graduates found to lack knowledge, job loyalty. South China Morning Post. 2011 Nov 18.Search in Google Scholar

38. Roundtable Community. Ten years after the handover: advantages and cooperation prospects of young people in Hong Kong and the mainland. Hong Kong: Roundtable Community, 2007.Search in Google Scholar

39. Census & Statistics Department. 2001 Population census main report, vol. 1. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Printing Department, 2002.Search in Google Scholar

40. Lui HK, Suen W. The shrinking earnings premium for university graduates in Hong Kong: the effect of quantity or quality? Contemp Econ Policy 2005;23:242–54.10.1093/cep/byi018Search in Google Scholar

41. Catalano RF, Berglund ML, Ryan JA, Lonczak HS, Hawkins JD. Positive youth development in the United States: research findings on evaluations of positive youth development programs. Prev Treat 2002;5:1–111.10.1037/1522-3736.5.1.515aSearch in Google Scholar

42. Shek DTL, Sun RCF. Promoting psychosocial competencies in university students: evaluation based on a one group pretest-posttest design. Int J Disabil Hum Dev 2012;11:229–34.Search in Google Scholar

43. Shek DTL, Sun RCF. Promoting leadership and intrapersonal competence in university students: what can we learn from Hong Kong? Int J Disabil Hum Dev 2012;11:221–8.10.1515/ijdhd-2012-0037Search in Google Scholar

44. Shek DTL, Sun RCF, Cheng CT, Yan HR. Objective outcome evaluation of a leadership and intrapersonal development subject for university students. Int J Disabil Hum Dev in press.Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2012-3-15
Accepted: 2012-4-26
Published Online: 2013-3-27
Published in Print: 2013-12-01

©2013 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston

Downloaded on 29.3.2024 from https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/ijamh-2013-0032/html
Scroll to top button