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A 4-year Longitudinal Study of Well-being of Chinese University Students in Hong Kong

Author

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  • Daniel T. L. Shek

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    East China Normal University
    Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau)

  • Lu Yu

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Florence K. Y. Wu

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Xiaoqin Zhu

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Kevin H. Y. Chan

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

Abstract

The present longitudinal study explored the development of personal well-being in university students over 4 years. Personal well-being was indexed by multiple indicators including life satisfaction, positive youth development qualities, and university engagement. A sample of 434 students enrolled in the new 4-year undergraduate program in one university in Hong Kong was successfully followed up for 4 years since they started their university study in 2012–2013 academic year. Students completed an online survey on a yearly basis and four waves of data were collected. Results revealed significant changes in most well-being indicators over time with three main observations. First, students’ life satisfaction remained at a stable level during 4 years. Second, most students’ self-reported positive youth development competencies followed a U-shaped developmental trajectory, which was characterised by a dip in the second year and a continuous rebound in the third year and fourth year. Third, students’ university engagement in different aspects showed significant increments in the third and fourth year of university study. The findings underscore the disparate developmental patterns of different aspects of student well-being during university study. This suggests that there is a need to take into account students’ developmental characteristics and related challenges in different stages of university life when develop and implement programs in university to promote student well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel T. L. Shek & Lu Yu & Florence K. Y. Wu & Xiaoqin Zhu & Kevin H. Y. Chan, 2017. "A 4-year Longitudinal Study of Well-being of Chinese University Students in Hong Kong," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 12(4), pages 867-884, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:12:y:2017:i:4:d:10.1007_s11482-016-9493-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-016-9493-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel Shek & Ting Liu, 2014. "Life Satisfaction in Junior Secondary School Students in Hong Kong: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 117(3), pages 777-794, July.
    2. Daniel Shek & Cecilia Ma, 2010. "Dimensionality of the Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale: Confirmatory Factor Analyses," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 98(1), pages 41-59, August.
    3. Daniel Shek & Hildie Leung & Su Lu, 2014. "Perceived Family Life Quality in Junior Secondary School Students in Hong Kong," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 117(3), pages 757-775, July.
    4. Daniel Shek & Xiang Li, 2016. "Perceived School Performance, Life Satisfaction, and Hopelessness: A 4-Year Longitudinal Study of Adolescents in Hong Kong," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 126(2), pages 921-934, March.
    5. Lili Tian & Huan Chen & E. Huebner, 2014. "The Longitudinal Relationships Between Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction at School and School-Related Subjective Well-Being in Adolescents," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 119(1), pages 353-372, October.
    6. Rachel Sun & Daniel Shek, 2013. "Longitudinal Influences of Positive Youth Development and Life Satisfaction on Problem Behaviour among Adolescents in Hong Kong," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 114(3), pages 1171-1197, December.
    7. Rachel Sun & Daniel Shek, 2012. "Positive Youth Development, Life Satisfaction and Problem Behaviour Among Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong: A Replication," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 105(3), pages 541-559, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Inmaculada García-Martínez & José María Augusto Landa & Samuel P. León, 2021. "The Mediating Role of Engagement on the Achievement and Quality of Life of University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-12, June.
    2. Xiaoqin Zhu & Daniel T. L. Shek, 2021. "Promoting Service Leadership Qualities and Well-Being among University Students: Evaluation Findings in Hong Kong," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(6), pages 2475-2495, December.
    3. Simon Matthew Herd, 2022. "Synthesising Hedonic and Eudaimonic Approaches: A Culturally Responsive Four-Factor Model of Aggregate Subjective Well-Being for Hong Kong Children," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(3), pages 1103-1129, June.
    4. Xiaoqin Zhu & Daniel T. L. Shek, 2020. "The Influence of Adolescent Problem Behaviors on Life Satisfaction: Parent–Child Subsystem Qualities as Mediators," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(5), pages 1767-1789, October.
    5. Xiaoqin Zhu & Daniel T. L. Shek, 2021. "Problem Behavior and Life Satisfaction in Early Adolescence: Longitudinal Findings in a Chinese Context," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 2889-2914, October.
    6. Daniel T. L. Shek & Wenyu Chai & Kaiji Zhou, 2023. "Risk Factors and Protective Factors of Internet Addiction in University Students during the Pandemic: Implications for Prevention and Treatment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-17, May.
    7. Li Lin & Daniel T. L. Shek, 2019. "Does Service Leadership Education Contribute to Student Well-Being? A Quasi-Experimental Study Based on Hong Kong University Students," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 14(5), pages 1147-1163, November.
    8. Zheng Zhou & Daniel T. L. Shek & Xiaoqin Zhu & Li Lin, 2021. "The Influence of Moral Character Attributes on Adolescent Life Satisfaction: the Mediating Role of Responsible Behavior," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(3), pages 1293-1313, June.
    9. Sze Mon Lo & Ho Cheong Wong & Ching Yee Lam & Daniel T. L. Shek, 2021. "An Innovative Multidisciplinary Healthcare Model in Student Mental Health: Experience in Hong Kong," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(1), pages 301-313, February.

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