Date: 16/12/2024
- Youths hope for understanding from others.
- HKCS hosted the 'Exhibition: FAILURE REIMAGINED' to call for collaboration among families, schools, and social service agencies to redefine 'failure'.
A survey revealed that 48.3% of youths rate their 'failure index' at 6 or above (out of 10), indicating a tendency to view themselves as failures, mainly linked to academic performance. Life inevitably involves various failures, if not managed properly, these can adversely affect mental health and personal development. From June to September this year, Hong Kong Christian Service (HKCS) surveyed 597 individuals aged 12 to 24 to explore their experiences with failure. The findings showed that 55.0% of youths faced 'blame' from others after experiencing failure, with family being the most significant source of secondary trauma, further harming their mental health.
Viewing Unmet Goals as Failure
The survey invited youths to evaluate their 'failure index' from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater feelings of failure. The average score was 5.6. The top three definitions of 'failure' among youths were: 'not achieving personal goals' (82.1%), 'not fully demonstrating own strengths/abilities' (51.8%), and 'not meeting others' expectations' (42.4%).
Youths rating their 'failure index' at 6 to 10 tended to view failure more negatively, citing statements such as 'others always emphasise the results of failure while dismissing the efforts made during the process' and 'failure diminishes my value'. When asked about the most impactful failure experiences, 77.2% identified them as related to 'academic achievement', significantly more than the second-highest category, 'personal ability demonstration or development' (48.2%), followed by 'peer/interpersonal relationships' (39.5%).
Secondary Trauma May Harm Mental Health
After experiencing failure, 55.0% of youths faced further 'blame' from others, with 76.5% of the blame coming from family members, far exceeding that from teachers (26.7%) and peers (24.2%). Other common negative responses included 'being overly concerned for me' (45.0%) and 'disclosing the issue without my consent' (43.7%). These negative responses cause youths to feel further defeated after experiencing failure, resulting in secondary trauma.
When facing failure, youths expect others to say… | |||
Most Desired Responses: | Least Desired Responses: | ||
I know you have tried very hard! | 46.3% | You are not that unfortunate. Many are worse than you. | 38.1% |
Take a break! | 26.3% | I told you so, but you never listen. | 36.7% |
I am here for you! | 25.1% | We’ve had tougher times in the past, and you can survive like we did. | 36.5% |
The survey also used the widely recognised General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) to measure youths' mental health and found that 3.4% had significant psychological distress. Data further indicated that greater secondary trauma correlates with poorer mental health. Notably, family-induced secondary trauma impacts mental health more than the experience of failure itself.
Fear of Facing Failure
66.0% of youths reported fearing failure, primarily due to others' expectations, such as 'fearing disappointing others' and 'fearing letting others down'. Additionally, the survey used the Achievement Motives Scale (AMS), revealing that youths' motivation to avoid failure surpassed their motivation to succeed. In other words, they are more concerned about facing failure than striving for success. Importantly, as motivation to avoid failure increases, mental health declines. Meanwhile, motivation for success shows no significant relationship with mental health, suggesting that educating youths on facing failure is more effective for promoting mental health than merely pursuing success.
23-year-old Gigi (pseudonym) missed classes in her first year of university due to emotional issues and received warnings from her school. While friends enjoyed vibrant university lives, she described herself as 'a pile of lifeless sludge'. At that time, her family's concern included comments like 'I had it worse than you, just think it through yourself!' Such remarks further impacted Gigi negatively and led her to self-harm. However, after participating in HKCS's 'Fail Forward-Life Development Programme', she learned to confront failure and rebuild her confidence. 'When facing failure, we often doubt ourselves and blame ourselves for letting others down.' She stated, 'I hope everyone does not overlook or underestimate every opportunity for support. Even a simple expression of concern can warm those who are suffering and feeling helpless.' Today, Gigi has successfully graduated from university and serves as a 'FAIL Docent' at HKCS, supporting others with similar experiences.
Recommendations
Based on the survey results, Hong Kong Christian Service recommends strengthening collaboration among families, schools, and social service agencies to comprehensively support youth facing failures in order to promote their mental health and achievement motivation:
1. Assist Youths in Confronting Failure to Establish Personal Values
- Conduct casework or group interventions to guide youths in examining their unique experiences with failure to explore and establish personal values while enhancing their sense of hope.
- Provide platforms for youth participation and expression of opinions that encourage them to extend their focus from 'self' to 'society', thus having a positive influence.
2. Strengthen Youth Support Networks to Facilitate Effective Emotional Responses
- Enhance stakeholders' understanding and recognition of youths' emotions and thoughts when facing failures to strengthen emotional connections within support networks while reducing secondary trauma caused by negative responses.
- Offer support services for parents through youth or family service organisations so they can grasp effective parent-child communication and emotional response skills better and adopt a more open attitude towards experiences of failure.
3. Create a Diverse and Accepting Growth Environment to Redefine Failure
- Enhance public education efforts that broaden the definitions of 'failure' and 'success', reducing stigma against youths who experience failure while promoting a culture of mutual acceptance and understanding.
- Promote 'failure education' and the importance of recognising emotions and values education to cultivate a caring school environment that enhances mental health among all stakeholders.
Hosting 'Exhibition: FAILURE REIMAGINED'
To promote failure education among youth and the public, HKCS held the 'Exhibition: FAILURE REIMAGINED' on 14 December at InnoCentre, Kowloon Tong. The opening ceremony featured Apple Tse, HKCS Deputy Director (Youth & Social Rehabilitation), Chi-yuen Tik, Legislative Council member, Janet Kung, one of 2024 Hong Kong's Ten Outstanding Young Persons, and singer JACE Chan as officiating guests. They also toured the exhibition under the guidance of 'FAIL Docent' to learn about youths' emotional journeys when confronting failure.
As an ice climber, Janet Kung shared: 'My climbing journey has not been smooth sailing. Injuries during competitions and opposition from family have led me through self-doubt and frustration. However, my coach and peers provided me with the courage not to give up while encouraging me to learn "transformation" from failures. I believe that support and understanding are far more important than blame or denial on youths' growth journeys.'
JACE remarked: 'I have feared failure since childhood. I thought if I didn't try, I wouldn't lose. Thus, I never actively expressed my love for singing or songwriting before missing many opportunities and time. I want young people to know that "we can fail; we can enjoy failing; we must get used to failing" so that we can have the courage to try hard.'
HKCS's 'Fail Forward-Life Development Programme' provides interactive and diverse experiences for teachers and students through support groups, teacher training workshops, and exhibitions, etc. Interested schools and individuals can call 27799556 for enquiries.
For media enquiries, please contact:
- Apple Ngo, Service Supervisor, Shamshuipo West Happy Teens Club, HKCS (Tel.: 2779 9556)
- Don CHENG, Assistant Manager (Public Relations), HKCS (Tel: 2731 6263)
(From Left) Step Yuen, Team Leader of HKCS Shamshuipo West Happy Teens Club, Jackie Chan, Supervisor of HKCS Centre for Research & Development, Chi-yuen Tik, Legislative Council member, Janet Kung, one of 2024 Hong Kong's Ten Outstanding Young Persons, 'FAIL Docent' Gigi, and Apple Ngo, Service Supervisor of HKCS Shamshuipo West Happy Teens Clubat the survey release conference.
(From Left) Apple Ngo, Service Supervisor of HKCS Shamshuipo West Happy Teens Club, singer JACE, 'FAIL Docent' Gigi, Yvonne Chak, Director of HKCS, Janet Kung, one of 2024 Hong Kong's Ten Outstanding Young Persons, Chi-yuen Tik, Legislative Council member, Apple Tse, Deputy Director (Youth & Social Rehabilitation) of HKCS, and Susanne Choi, Service Head of HKCS Children & Youth Service unveiling the 'Exhibition: FAILURE REIMAGINED'.
Gigi has gained new insights into failure after participating in 'The Fail Docent Program'.
Janet Kung hopes society will offer more support and understanding towards youth.
JACE encourages young people to get used to failing and be brave enough to try.
The 'Exhibition: FAILURE REIMAGINED' showcases youth-curated works reinterpreting the definition of failure.
The 'Exhibition: FAILURE REIMAGINED' showcases youth-curated works reinterpreting the definition of failure.
The 'Exhibition: FAILURE REIMAGINED' showcases youth-curated works reinterpreting the definition of failure.