Hong Kong children’s views about their lives and well-being during the pandemic: Evidence from the Covid-19 Supplement of Children’s Worlds

Since the first coronavirus cluster was reported in December 2019, few families with children have managed to avoid the impacts of economic lockdowns, travel restrictions, school closures, and other public health measures on their everyday lives. Several studies have captured children’s experiences during the pandemic, but few focus specifically on children’s views on their lives and well-being. This presentation summarises the quantitative evidence from an online survey (n = 414) conducted in Hong Kong as part of the ‘Covid-19 Supplement of Children’s Worlds: The International Survey of Children’s Well-Being’. Based on a unique questionnaire covering children’s exposure to Covid-19 in their families and the pandemic’s impact on their school life and relationships, it discusses changes in Hong Kong children’s views about their lives and well-being. Using this empirical evidence, the presentation develops relevant descriptive and multivariate analyses for policymakers, NGO practitioners, schools and parents on potentially mitigating the negative impacts of future public health crises on child well-being.