benchmark study on civic engagement and social networks of youth in hong kong

Benchmark Study on Civic Engagement and Social Networks

of Youth in Hong Kong

www.info.gov.hk/coy

Content of Presentation• Concept of social capital• Methodology

– Conceptual framework– Survey enumeration results

• Civic engagement and social networks– Network qualities– Network structure– Network transactions

• Related factors– Use of community services– Participation in employment/training programmes– Family functioning– Social support network– Mental health status

• Analysis by age• Causes and consequences of social capital• Social capital indicators

Concept of social capital

• An attribute of individuals and communities

• Two main elements– Social structures (e.g. structures within family,

community or nation)

– Actions between people with social structures, based on trust and expectation of reciprocal treatments

• Represents ties and cohesive force between– Family members

– Members of the same community

– Members from different communities

Operational definitions of social capital• Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

(OECD):– “Networks together with shared norms, values and understanding

that facilitate co-operation within and among groups”• Australia: 3 dimensions

– Network qualities– Network structure– Network transactions

• World Bank: 3 categories of indicators– Cognitive social capital– Structural social capital– Outcomes of social capital

• Framework adopted in present study:– 8 components of civic engagement and social networks– 3 dimensions– 3 categories

Networkqualities

Networkstructure

Networktransactions

Social capital

Network qualities

Network structure

Network transactions

Social Capital of Youth

Social trust

Associationalinvolvement

Diversity offriendship

Informalsocializing

Civicrallies

Conventionalpolitics

Giving andvolunteering

Faith-basedengagement

CognitiveSocial capital

StructuralSocial capital

Social capitaloutcomes

Networkqualities

Community services

Employment& training

Family functioning

Networkstructure

Networktransactions

Mental health status

Networkqualities

Community services

Employment& training

Social supportnetwork

Family functioning

Networkstructure

Networktransactions

Mental healthstatus

Networkqualities

Community services

Employment& training

Social supportnetwork

Family functioning

Networkstructure

Networktransactions

At school At workNot-at-schoolNot-at-work

Mental healthstatus

Networkqualities

Community services

Employment& training

Social supportnetwork

Family functioning

Networkstructure

Networktransactions

At school At workNot-at-schoolNot-at-work

Social capital

Factors affectingSocial capital

Personal well-being

Economicwell-being

Survey enumeration results

Number %

1. Total number of living quarters sampled 20 297 -

2. Number of living quarters found to be vacant, demolished or non-residential or without household members who could speak Cantonese

1 455 -

3. Number of living quarters eligible for inclusion in the survey (1) – (2)

18 842 100%

4. Number of living quarters successfully enumerated 14 341 76.1%

5. Number of living quarters enumerated with youth 2 511 -

6. Number of youth interviewed 3 556 -

7. Number of living quarters refusing to respond 2 560 13.6%

8. Number of living quarters that could not be contacted

1 941 10.3%

(Survey conducted between Sept 04 and Mar 05)

Index of social trust by economic activity status

5.14.7 4.3 4.2

4.64.9 4.7 4.5 4.85.05.2 4.8

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work

All

Trust in people Trust in institutions Overall index of social trust

Index of social trust by economic activity status

5.14.7 4.3 4.2

4.64.9 4.7 4.5 4.85.05.2 4.8

1

4

7

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work

All

Trust in people Trust in institutions Overall index of social trust

Associational involvement: % participation by economic activity status

38%

24%

17%

33%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work

All

Index on diversity of friendship by economic activity status

5.35.35.3 5.2

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work All

Informal socializing: social activities with friends, classmates and colleagues in past 12 months by

economic activity status

0%

0%

2%

0%

0%

2%

11%

84%

0%

1%

4%

0%

1%

5%

22%

68%

1%

4%

8%

2%

1%

5%

21%

59%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

No comment

No

Yes, not sure

Yes, each year

Yes, every half a year

Yes, every 2-3 months

Yes, every month

Yes, every week

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work

Conventional politics: % registered as voters (18-24 age group) by economic activity status

51%48%

1%

36%

63%

1%

51%49%

1%0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Yes No No comment

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work

Civic rallies: % participation in past 12 months by economic activity status

17%

82%

1%

12%

88%

1%

16%

82%

2%0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No No comment

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work

Giving and volunteering: % participation by economic activity status

33%

47%

32%

40%

55%65%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Volunteering Donation in past 12 months

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work

Giving and volunteering: index on attitude towards volunteering by economic activity status

5.14.9

5.2 4.8

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work

All

Faith-based engagement: % with religious belief by economic activity status

27%

20% 20%

25%

0%

10%

20%

30%

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work

All

Faith-based engagement: % distribution by extent of devotion by economic activity status

Percentage distribution of the respondents who had religious belief by extent

of devotion and by economic activity status

2.3%

2.3%

2.9%

6.5%

45.2%

34.1%

6.8%

1.9%

1.9%

7.9%

9.3%

30.1%

6.0%

2.5%

0.0%

7.5%

7.5%

35.0%

42.5%

5.0%

43.1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

No comment

Not devoted at all

Not quite devoted

Slightly not devoted

Slightly devoted

Quite devoted

Very devoted

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work

Social capital of youth: observations• Social trust

– Quite high : 4.8 in a scale of 7; Trust in people, higher: 5.1;Trust in institutions, lower: 4.6

• Associational involvement – Low, 33% participation in civic associations

• Diversity of friendship– Quite high: 5.3 in a scale of 7

• Informal socializing– High: 78% weekly social activities in past 12 months

• Conventional politics– Average: 50% of those aged 18-24 registered as voters

• Civic rallies– Very low: 16% participated in past 12 months

• Giving and volunteering– High: attitude, 5.1 in a scale of 7– Average: 48% participation in volunteer work– Average: 59% donations in past 12 months

• Faith-based engagement– Low: 25%

Use of community services: % participation by economic activity status

8.2%

29.0%26.3%

35.2%

1.3% 0.2%0.5% 0.1%

1.1%

21.4%

42.0%

20.4%15.1%

37.2%

9.9%

0.0%

23.0%

29.4%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Often Sometimes Seldom Never, noneed

Never, notaware of

Never, otherreasons

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work

Employment and training programmes: % participation by economic activity status

46.2%

56.2%

42.3%

1.6%

16.1%

82.7%

1.1%0.1%

53.3%

0.0%0.5%

0.0%0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No, no need No, not aware of No, other reasons

Students

Employed

Not-at-school/not-at-work

Index on availability of help from friends by economic activity status

5.35.35.35.0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work All

Index on rendering of help to friends/neighbours by economic activity status

2.02.12.0 2.0

1

2

3

4

5

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work All

Index on family relationship by economic activity status

3.83.83.83.6

1

2

3

4

5

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work All

Index on parent-child relationship by economic activity status

3.83.83.83.6

1

2

3

4

5

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work

All

Index on mental health by economic activity status

3.23.33.2 3.2

1

2

3

4

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work All

Index on self-esteem by economic activity status

3.02.93.02.8

1

2

3

4

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work All

Index on perception in life by economic activity status

3.53.3

3.6

3.1

1

2

3

4

5

6

Students Employed Not-at-school/not-at-work All

Social Support Network & Personal well-being: observations

• Availability of help– High : 5.3 in a scale of 7

• Rendering of help – Low: 2.0 in a scale of 5

• Family relationship/parent-child relationship– High: 3.8 in a scale of 5

• Mental health– High: 3.2 in a scale of 4

• Perception in life– Average: 3.5 in a scale of 6

• Self-esteem– High: 3.0 in a scale of 4

Analysis by age: Index of trust in people

5.09 5.07

5.14

4.984.96

5.12

5.05

5.17

5.20

5.30

4.9

5.0

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.4

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Age

Analysis by age: Index of trust in institutions

4.554.49

4.42

4.34 4.344.43

4.50

4.61

4.64

4.86

4.2

4.4

4.6

4.8

5.0

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Age

Analysis by age: Index of diversity of friendship

5.31

5.35 5.34 5.34 5.35

5.40

5.315.33

5.265.26

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.4

5.5

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Age

Analysis by age: Index of attitude towards volunteering

5.12 5.115.18

4.94 4.94

5.055.08

5.215.145.16

4.5

4.7

4.9

5.1

5.3

5.5

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Age

Analysis by age: Index of availability of help

5.35 5.36

5.245.22 5.21

5.235.26

5.24

5.39

5.21

5.0

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.4

5.5

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Age

Analysis by age: Index of rendering of help

2.02

2.09 2.092.08

2.00

1.95

2.011.99

2.00

1.95

1.8

1.9

2.0

2.1

2.2

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Age

Analysis by age: Index of mental health

3.203.19

3.27

3.21

3.28

3.25

3.19

3.23

3.27

3.31

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Age

Analysis by age: Index of perception of life

3.57

3.493.51

3.32

3.373.353.35

3.52

3.58

3.71

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

3.8

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Age

Analysis by age: Index of self-esteem

2.97

2.94

3.00

2.93

2.97 2.97

2.91

2.95

2.993.02

2.8

2.9

3.0

3.1

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Age

Analysis by age: Index of family relationship

3.81

3.72

3.84

3.78 3.77

3.91

3.76

3.833.84

3.89

3.6

3.7

3.8

3.9

4.0

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Age

Analysis by age: Index of parent-child relationship

3.81

3.75

3.83

3.77 3.77

3.88

3.72

3.803.81

3.85

3.6

3.7

3.8

3.9

4.0

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Age

Analysis by age: observations• Increases with age

– Diversity of friendship– Rendering of help

• Decreases with age– Trust in people– Trust in institutions– Attitude towards volunteering– Perception of life

• Double-dip pattern (1st dip: around 17-19; 2nd dip: around 21 – 23)– Trust in people– Trust in institutions– Attitude towards volunteering– Availability of help– Mental health– Self-esteem– Family relationship– Parent-child relationship

Mental healthstatus

Networkqualities

Community services

Employment& training

Social supportnetwork

Family functioning

Networkstructure

Networktransactions

At school At workNot-at-schoolNot-at-work

Mental health

Social trust

Community services

Employment& training

Social supportnetwork

Family functioning

Associational involvement

Attitude towards volunteering

At school At workNot-at-schoolNot-at-work

Self-esteem

Mental health

Social trust

Community services

Employment& training

Social supportnetwork

Family functioning

Associational involvement

Attitude towards volunteering

At school At workNot-at-schoolNot-at-work

Self-esteem

Mental health

Social trust

Community services

Employment& training

Social supportnetwork

Family functioning

Associational involvement

Attitude towards volunteering

At school At workNot-at-schoolNot-at-work

Self-esteem

Mental health

Social trust

Community services

Employment& training

Social supportnetwork

Family functioning

Associational involvement

Attitude towards volunteering

At school At workNot-at-schoolNot-at-work

Self-esteem

Uniformed/Social services

groups

Mental health

Social trust

Community services

Employment& training

Social supportnetwork

Family functioning

Associational involvement

Attitude towards volunteering

At school At workNot-at-schoolNot-at-work

Self-esteem

Uniformed/Social services

groups

Mental health

Social trust

Community services

Employment& training

Social supportnetwork

Family functioning

Associational involvement

Attitude towards volunteering

At school At workNot-at-schoolNot-at-work

Self-esteem

Uniformed/Social services

groupsReligious belief

(devoted/quite devoted)

Mental health

Social trust

Community services

Employment& training

Availabilityof help

Family functioning

Associational involvement

Attitude towards volunteering

At school At workNot-at-schoolNot-at-work

Self-esteem

Uniformed/Social services

groupsReligious belief

(devoted/quite devoted)

Mental health

Social trust

Community services

Employment& training

Availabilityof help

Family relationship

Associational involvement

Attitude towards volunteering

At school At workNot-at-schoolNot-at-work

Self-esteem

Uniformed/Social services

groupsReligious belief

(devoted/quite devoted)

Parent-childrelationship

Mental health

Social trust

Community services

Employment& training

Availabilityof help

Family relationship

Associational involvement

Attitude towards volunteering

At school At workNot-at-schoolNot-at-work

Self-esteem

Uniformed/Social services

groupsReligious belief

(devoted/quite devoted)

Parent-childrelationship

Total impact on social capital, social support network and mental health status

FactorsFamily

functioningCommunity

servicesEmployment or

training programme

Social trust 0.352 0.072 -

Associational involvement

0.024 0.198 -

Volunteering 0.208 0.221 -0.003

Availability of help 0.207 0.110 -

Self-esteem 0.360 0.018 -0.032

Mental health 0.344 -0.109 -0.011

Mental healthstatus

Networkqualities

Community services

Employment& training

Social supportnetwork

Family functioning

Networkstructure

Networktransactions

At school At workNot-at-schoolNot-at-work

Self-esteem

Socialtrust

Community services

Employment& training

Availability of help

Family functioning

Associationalinvolvement

Networktransactions

At school

At work

Not-at-schoolNot-at-work

15 – 19 years old

Perception in life

Self-esteem

Socialtrust

Community services

Employment& training

Availabilityof help

Family relationship

Associationalinvolvement

Networktransactions

At school

At work

Not-at-schoolNot-at-work

20 – 24 years old

Perception in life

Overall observations• Social capital of youth

– Higher level of social trust, diversity of friendship and attitude towards volunteering

• Need to translate social capital, at the cognitive level, into action (e.g. participation in civic association and volunteering)

– Not-at-school/not-at-work• Lower

– “Double-dip” pattern• Attention required for youth, at the ages of 17 – 19 and 21 – 23, probably

during transition from school to work/further education

• Personal wellbeing and social support network– Good family functioning, mental health and self-esteem– Not-at-school/not-at-work

• Lower– “Double-dip” pattern– Attention required:

• Relatively lower perception in life• Low willingness to render help to friends/neighbours

Causes and consequences of social capital: observations

• Family functioning is most important– Not only for early adolescents, but also late adolescents– Involvement of family

• Not just limited to home-school cooperation• But also college-home or training institutions-home cooperation

• Community services also important– Attention needed

• Decline in participation with age• Low participation of those employed and not-at-school/not-at-work

• Impact of employment and training programmes on social capital of youth?– Enhancing social capital of youth should be made an

important objective and component of programmes.

Social capital indicators• Network qualities (cognitive social capital)

– Index of trust in people– Index of trust in institutions– Overall index of social trust

• Network structure (structural social capital)– Index of diversity of friendship

• Network transaction (outcomes of social capital)– Index of attitude towards volunteering

• Other factors– Index of family relationship– Index of parent-child relationship– Index of availability of help– Index of rendering help– Index of mental health– Index of perception in life– Index of self-esteem

Thank You