What Predicts Threat Perceptions Toward People Opposing to the Government? A Population-Based Study Following Umbrella Movement, Hong Kong

Authors

  • Wai Kai Hou
    Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong; Laboratory of Psychology and Ecology of Stress (LoPES), The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong; Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong
  • Daphna Canetti
    School of Political Science, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
  • Tsz Wah Ma
    Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong; Laboratory of Psychology and Ecology of Stress (LoPES), The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong
  • Brian J. Hall
    Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Macau (SAR), People’s Republic of China; Global and Community Mental Health Research Group, University of Macau, Macau (SAR), People’s Republic of China; Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
  • Kam Man Lau
    Laboratory of Psychology and Ecology of Stress (LoPES), The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong
  • Sin Man Ng
    Laboratory of Psychology and Ecology of Stress (LoPES), The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong
  • Stevan E. Hobfoll
    Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

Abstract

We examined the incidence and predictors of threat perceptions toward people who oppose government action (i.e., protestors) following the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong (September 28th to December 15th, 2014). A population-representative sample of 1,208 citizens (mean age = 46.89 years; 52.4% female) was recruited two months after the conclusion of the Movement using random digit dialing. Upon giving their informed consent, respondents reported sociodemographics, perceived threats of protestors to the prospects of democracy, ways of life, and the economy, anxiety symptoms (STAI), and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9). More than half disagreed that protestors threatened the prospects of democracy (54.7%, 95% CI = .52, .57), ways of life (52.2%, 95% CI = .49, .55), and the economy (51.4%, 95% CI = .49, .54). Regression analyses revealed that male sex was associated with lower odds of perceiving threats to the prospects of democracy and ways of life. Being unmarried was associated with lower odds of perceiving threats to the economy. Secondary education level and depressive symptoms were associated with higher odds of perceiving threats to ways of life and the economy, respectively. This is one of the first population-based studies that measured socioeconomic and mental health correlates of political attitudes immediately following pro-democracy movements.