USJ Jointly Releases Survey on the Mental Health of Secondary Students in Macao
USJ Jointly Releases Survey on the Mental Health of Secondary Students in Macao
08
Aug
08/08/2025
The report reveals that anxiety and emotional distress warrant public attention.
The “2025 Survey on the Mental Health of Secondary Students in Macao” report, jointly released by the General Association of Chinese Students of Macau (AECM) and the Macau Observatory for Social Development at University of Saint Joseph (USJ), held a press conference at the AECM office. The findings were presented by Mr. Victor Hoi, Education Officer of AECM and Dr. Jayson Lou, this projector monitor and the coordinator of the Master of Social Work Programme at USJ. Funded by the Macau Foundation, this study was conducted between May and June of this year in seven local secondary schools using a questionnaire survey, with a total of 1,017 students participating.
The report reveals that anxiety and emotional distress warrant public attention. Some students surveyed expressed dissatisfaction with their sleep quality and believed that sleep problems have impacted their daily lives. Stress stemmed primarily from academic work, exams, and further studies, followed by interpersonal relationships and self-imposed demands. The study also found that 40% of respondents experienced mild to moderate anxiety, while 6% experienced moderate to severe anxiety. Male students also performed better than female students on a number of psychological indicators, including life satisfaction, anxiety, personal endurance, and cohesion, and reported better sleep quality.
The research team recommended that schools and parents reduce the need for exam-based instruction, increase students’ rest and exercise time, promote mental health education and crisis identification training, and encourage them to express their feelings and make full use of their rest time. Furthermore, the government should continue to devote resources to promote students’ physical and mental health.
