Health CommunicationFamily support is paramount! FAMILY: A Jockey Club Initiative for a Harmonious Society held a press conference on 21 May to announce findings of “Study on Family Support”. Results have shown that good family support can significantly reduce the adverse effects caused by stress on the quality of mental health.
The FAMILY Project completed the first phase of territory-wide household survey with data from 8,481 families. Among them, 7,715 families (including 17,082 individuals) had completed data relating to mental health and family satisfaction. According to the self-rated Mental Health-Related Quality of Life survey, Hong Kong people had a mean of 53.5 on the Mental Component Subscale (MCS), which is comparatively higher than neighboring countries and cities with scores from 49.5 to 51.1.
The top three stressful life events were “My workload is very heavy.”, “My family’s or my own financial situation have/has worsen.” and “A member or members of my family had a serious health problem(s).” Both the existence and number of stressful life events were associated with worse Mental Health-Related Quality of Life (MCS). Greater improvement in Mental Health-Related Quality of Life was associated with better family support among respondents with stressful life events than those without. It could thus be seen that strong family support should not be neglected.
Prof Lam Tai-hing, Principal Investigator of FAMILY Project has suggested that we can express our gratitude and praises to our families more often so as to provide them with more support. We can practice simple acts such as saying thank you and praising them when they lend you a helping hand, provide a listening ear for your family members and giving them your emotional support. At the same time, Prof Sophia Chan Siu-chee, Co-Investigator of FAMILY Project encourages us to spend more quality time with family members, such as, to cook and have your meals with your family.
Press conference announcing the results of “Study on Family Support”.
The press conference was crowded with journalists.
Prof Lam Tai-hing, Principal Investigator of FAMILY Project, said at the press conference that family support can effectively reduce the adverse impacts brought by stressful life events.
Prof Sophia Chan Siu-chee, Co-Investigator of FAMILY Project, stated that the participants of the Happy Family Kitchen project show improvements in their communication within family.
Mr. Tang Chi-ying (in yellow apron), participant of the Happy Family Kitchen project who learnt about expressing love to family member during the programme, fed his mother with his hand-made dumplings to show his care.
(Back row, from left) Photo of Ms Imelda Chan, Executive Manager, Charities, The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Prof Sophia Chan Siu-chee, Co-Investigator of FAMILY Project; Prof Lam Tai-hing, Principal Investigator of FAMILY Project; (front row, from left) Mr. Tang Chi-ying and his mother, Mrs. Tang, participants of the Happy Family Kitchen project; and Mr. Moses Mui, Chief Officer, Family and Community Service, Hong Kong Council of Social Service at the press conference.
