Strengthening Hong Kong’s Families : Strengthening Hong Kong’s Families : Embracing a Holistic Family Approach Embracing a Holistic Family Approach

in Formulating Social Policy and in Formulating Social Policy and Providing Social ServicesProviding Social Services

Central Policy UnitCentral Policy Unit

Hong Kong SAR Government Hong Kong SAR Government

3 December 20083 December 2008

Trends in Family Attitudes and Values – Trends in Family Attitudes and Values – Implications for Policy MakingImplications for Policy Making

Prof. Nelson Chow / Dr. Terry Lum / Dr. Elsie YanProf. Nelson Chow / Dr. Terry Lum / Dr. Elsie Yan

Department of Social Work and Social Administration

The University of Hong Kong

Study on Trends in Family Study on Trends in Family Attitudes and ValuesAttitudes and Values

• A survey of 1,014 HK residents conducted in March 2008

• 5 fours groups of helping professionals conducted in Shamshuipo, Shaukeiwan and Tin Shui Wai

Attitude towards Ideal FamilyAttitude towards Ideal Family

　Strongly　

disagreeDisagree Depends Agree

Strongly　agree

　 N　(%)

A childless couple can be an ideal family

3 77 56 751 120

(0.3) (7.6) (5.6) (74)(11.9

)

A nuclear family is more ideal than a childless couple

6 138 158 576 127

(0.6)(13.6

)(15.6

)(56.8

)(12.6

)

A 3-generation extended family is more ideal than a nuclear family

17 282 251 390 56

(1.6)(27.9

)(24.7

)(38.5

)(5.5)

A single parent family can also be an ideal family

31 352 163 437 13

(3)(34.7

)(16)

(43.1)

(1.3)

Attitude towards Ideal FamilyAttitude towards Ideal Family

• An ideal family can do without children• But it is better to have children• A 3-generation extended family is not

necessarily ideal• A single-parent family can be ideal• Young people/higher income groups

tend to be more liberal in attitude

Changes in Marriage 1981 - 2006Changes in Marriage 1981 - 2006

Median age at first marriage

1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006

Male 27 28 29.1 30 30.2 31.2

Female 23.9 25.3 26.2 26.9 27.5 28.2

Median Age at First Marriage

Changes in Marriage 1981-2006Changes in Marriage 1981-2006

• Number steadily decreased from 50,756 in 1981 to 32,825 in 2001 and came back to 50,328 in 2006

• First marriage of both parties decreased from 41,190 in 1981 to 33,352 in 2006

• Remarriage of either party increased, especially since 2001

• One party from Mainland now consists more than 40%

• Divorce decrees increased from 2,060 on 1981 to 17,424 in 2006

Attitude towards MarriageAttitude towards Marriage　 Strongly　disagree Disagree Depends Agree

Strongly　agree

　 No.(%)

Marriage is a necessary step in life13 132 159 592 114

(1.3) (13) (15.7) (58.4) (11.2)

Child bearing is important in marriage11 160 168 564 108

(1.1) (15.8) (16.5) (55.6) (10.7)

Marriage: Having a life long partner4 73 69 650 212

(0.4) (7.2) (6.8) (64.1) (20.9)

Very few good marriages17 248 211 455 65

(1.7) (24.4) (20.8) (44.9) (6.4)

Unmarried people face more social pressure

19 465 146 338 29

(1.9) (45.9) (14.4) (33.3) (2.8)

Married people are happier than unmarried people

11 291 304 360 36

(1) (28.7) (30) (35.5) (3.5)

1993: Married people are happier than unmarried people (Lee, 1995)

(38.9) (25.9) (26.7)

2008: Married people are happier than unmarried people

(29.7) (30) (39)

Attitude towards Marriage• Marriage and child bearing are still preferred• Still want to have a life-long partner and happy

marriage• Negative towards unmarried persons• Middle age and older persons reported higher

acceptance of divorce• More agreed divorce affects woman more than man• Female were more likely to accept divorce as a

solution to irresolvable martial problems• People with more education were less likely to

accept divorce• More were willing to marry a divorced person, even

with children

Attitude towards CohabitationAttitude towards Cohabitation　

Strongly disagree

Disagree Depends AgreeStrongly agree

　 N (%)

Cohabitation with a plan to marry31 201 69 649 52

(3) (19.8) (6.8) (64) (5.1)

Cohabitation without a plan to marry74 362 113 430 22

(7.3) (35.7) (11.2) (42.4) (2.1)

Long term cohabitation instead of marriage73 299 114 493 21

(7.2) (29.5) (11.3) (48.6) (2.1)

1988: Cohabitation1 (Lee 1992) (6.6) (35.5) (24.6) (26.5) (1.9)

1994 - working youth sample: Cohabitation (Yeung & Kwong, 1994)

(61.3) - (38.7)

Attitude towards CohabitationAttitude towards Cohabitation

• A general acceptance of cohabitation, especially with a plan to marry

• Long-tem cohabitation is accepted

• Young persons were more likely to accept cohabitation

• Higher income and higher education are associated with higher acceptance

Attitude towards Pre-marital SexAttitude towards Pre-marital Sex

　Strongly disagree

Disagree Depends Agree Strongly agree

　 N　(%)Premarital　sex　with　a　plan　to　marry

29 168 103 666 34

(2.9) (16.6) (10.2) (65.7) (3.4)

Premarital　sex　with　a　stable　relationship　but　no　plan　to　marry

59 301 124 495 14

(5.8) (29.7) (12.2) (48.8) (1.4)

Premarital　sex　without　a　stable　relationship

210 537 108 143 2

(20.7) (52.9) (10.6) (14.1) (0.2)

Attitude towards Pre-marital SexAttitude towards Pre-marital Sex

• General acceptance of pre-marital sex, especially with a plan to marriage or with a stable relationship

• Younger and middle age, higher income and higher education were more likely to accept pre-marital sex

• Same-sex sexual relationship is not accepted by most

Attitude towards Extramarital Attitude towards Extramarital Relationship Relationship

　Strongly　disagree

Disagree Depends AgreeStrongly　agree

　 N　(%)

Intimate relationship when no sex involved

148 540 118 188 2

(14.6) (53.2) (11.7) (18.5) (0.2)

Extra-marital sex340 566 41 54 1

(33.5) (55.8) (4.1) (5.4) (0.1)

1988: Men having extra-marital affairs (Lee, 1992)

(20.8) (64.3) (7.8) (7.1) 0

1988: Women having extra-marital affairs (Lee, 1992)

(25.7) (64.6) (5.9) (3.8) 0

Attitude towards Extramarital Attitude towards Extramarital RelationshipRelationship

• Large majority did not accept extramarital relationship, even with no sex

• No age and socio-economic status difference in attitude

• More male than female accepted

Reasons for not Having Children

• Long working hours

• Harsh environment for family and children

• Hong Kong is not a family and children friendly city

• Lack of financial means

Attitude towards Filial PietyAttitude towards Filial Piety　

Strongly　disagree

Disagree Depends AgreeStrongly　agree

　 N (%)

Family disgrace should be kept within the family

18 219 160 547 62

(1.8) (21.6) (15.8) (53.9) (6.1)

Work hard to bring honor to the family

20 253 1387 508 88

(1.9) (25) (13.6) (50.1) (8.7)

Consult parents for major decision3 107 152 637 100

(0.3) (10.5) (15) (62.8) (9.8)

Seek elder’s help to resolve family conflict

14 385 235 327 38

(1.4) (37.9) (23.2) (32.2) (3.7)

Having son to continue family name

19 356 237 343 53

(1.9) (35.1) (23.4) (33.9) (5.3)

Having a son is better than having a daughter

98 631 199 66 9

(9.7) (62.2) (19.7) (6.5) (0.9)

Attitude towards Filial PietyAttitude towards Filial Piety

• Majority agreed that family disgrace should be kept within the family

• Still wanted to work hard to bring honor to the family and consult parents in major decisions

• Less wanted to seek elders’ help to resolve family conflict

• Not important to have children to continue family name

Implications for policy making on Strengthening Hong Kong’s Families

• The need for research on family values and attitudes

• Respect for traditional values as well as the views of the minority

• Public platform for dialogues to make Hong Kong a family friendly city

• Building consensus around family friendly public policies and practices

• “Happy Learning Initiatives” for primary and school age children