More than one in five surveyed Hong Kong secondary students were assessed as having appearance anxiety at a high-risk level requiring attention, according to a new survey. The proportion was 33 per cent among girls, while an i-CABLE report put it at 14 per cent among boys; the reports did not explain whether the figures used exactly the same statistical basis.
The findings come from the Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service’s 2026 Secondary School Students’ Well-being Survey, which collected more than 1,300 valid questionnaire responses from local secondary students between November 2025 and March 2026. The survey covered well-being, emotional health, life satisfaction and appearance anxiety, and its results were released on August 30, before the new school year began. The reports did not provide the sampling method, the respondents’ school or year-group distribution, or evidence that the sample represents all Hong Kong secondary students.
Respondents recorded an average well-being score of 2.87 out of five. The two reports described the year-on-year change differently: one said the result was broadly similar to last year’s 2.9, while the other described it as a slight decline. The available reporting does not establish which characterisation is more appropriate.
The survey reported moderate to extremely severe symptoms of depression among 17.2 per cent of respondents, anxiety among 15.2 per cent and stress among 11.8 per cent. These proportions were reported as improved from the previous year, but still indicated that some young people faced mental-health challenges.
The organisation said social media and the spread of artificial-intelligence filters may amplify a narrow and unrealistic beauty standard. It pointed to algorithms promoting make-up, slimming and body-comparison content as possible influences on dissatisfaction with appearance and emotional distress. The reports did not establish a direct causal link between these factors and appearance anxiety.
Appearance anxiety was reported to be particularly pronounced among girls and senior secondary students. A clinical psychologist explained that students at this stage are exploring their identity while dealing with situations including relationships, graduation and moving into adult life. The reports did not specify the assessment tool used to identify high-risk appearance anxiety.