Lingnan University released a study of Hong Kong children’s happiness index on Tuesday conducted among 3,500 students and 150 faculty, showing the happiness index of Hong Kong students this year coming in at 6.77 out of 10.

The index, which evaluates students on the psychological pressure from school and family, dropped by 0.08 points compared to the results of last year, said the researchers.

Around 36 percent of student respondents said they feel a lot of pressure about their study tasks, and eight percent noted having little time for their personal hobbies, while 10.2 percent of students claimed to feel their lives were not valuable, which was one percent higher than the survey conducted last year.

Researchers also found school bullying happened most among junior students, contributing to decreased happiness.

Although life education in schools directly affected students’ happiness, family life education contributed more, researchers mentioned, along with the relationship between parents serving as the most significant element toward students’ growth.

“Students’ development was hindered a lot by the class suspensions due to the epidemic,” said Patrick Ip Pak-keung of the University of Hong Kong’s pediatrics and adolescent medicine department, calling for more extra-curricular activities in schools to promote the physical and mental wellbeing of children.