Students cling on to masks 'out of social anxiety'

More than 80 percent of primary and secondary students keep their masks on despite the mask mandate having been canceled since March, with 40 percent of them saying they still feel social anxiety.

That came in an Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service-Hong Kong survey of 2,564 primary and secondary students on masks and mental health from May to June that showed an average score of 8.53 out of 15 on the social anxiety scale, indicating a severe risk.

Continuing to wear a mask could have become a new normal for students, as almost 45 percent of them are still worried about Covid-19 or other related health issue, the service said.

Although health and pandemic prevention remains the main reason for wearing masks, more than 10 percent said facial appearance and social reasons also made them resort to masks.

Students were also more insecure about their appearance and not used to face-to-face interactions compared to before the pandemic.

"It is definitely a warning signal every student should be relieved from mental stress," said the service's assistant chief executive Chuk Wing-hung.

Chuk also made six suggestions in support of teenagers' mental health, including raising self-esteem, building confidence, enhancing communications and providing more help to female students.

The survey also found that schoolgirls showed more social anxiety than boys.

Director Hau Sze-nga said the mass media has been a main reason for females to have more concerns about their looks.

"Women have been the center of many of the advertisements, and it has developed a social climate that makes females care more about appearances," she said.

A student, Keung, from ELCHK Lutheran Secondary School in Yau Ma Tei, said her classmates are reluctant to remove masks as some seemed to feel uncomfortable at being stared at.

"I think some of these girls have no confidence in their appearance or face peer pressure as it will be odd to be among the few not wearing masks," she said.

Keung also said masks made them feel more secure and encouraged them to keep a distance from other people.

Principal Wan Ho-yin said schools should respect students' desire on masks.

But Wan hopes students don't just wear masks to minimize social anxiety.

"Teenagers are so worried about negative comments and are also impressionable, what we can do is to build a secure learning environment by giving more compliments instead of only indicating their problem," he said.

The service along with the secondary school will provide a set of services aimed at providing a more relaxed atmosphere, including an "ice-cream with you" activity while Wan will give free ice-cream to his students.