Fathers of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) are deeply influenced by patriarchal views in Chinese culture, which can lead to negative emotions that affect their children's growth. The Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) released Hong Kong's first "Survey on Fathers' Moral Emotions and the Needs of Caring for Children with Special Needs" today (Oct. 2) to raise awareness of men's emotional health needs and formulate respective strategies.
The study was conducted from May 2022 to Sept. 2023. In the first phase, the team interviewed 31 fathers of SEN children aged 2 to 12 and found that many fathers experience negative emotions or behaviors, including feelings of shame (65.7%), guilt (76.2%), avoidance behavior (50.6%), and compensatory behavior (95.2%). When their SEN children display emotional fluctuations or abnormal behaviors, such as running away in public places, most fathers feel ashamed due to the strange looks and negative comments from bystanders, which may make them avoid taking their children out or participating in social activities.
Dr. Lo Kai-chung, an assistant lecturer at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at HKU, pointed out that there are currently no official statistics on the population of fathers primarily involved in caring for SEN children aged 2 to 12 in Hong Kong. He estimates that as of mid-2023, the relevant number is 12,554. He also mentioned the current lack of policies in Hong Kong that assist fathers in caring for SEN children.
Lo suggested establishing government-funded support centers for male/father caregivers, enhancing community education to reduce the stigma against children with special needs, promoting father-friendly policies, and encouraging men's family involvement, which could also strengthen public recognition of fathers' unique roles in caring for children with special needs.
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