A quasi-experimental study on a co-production- and school-based psychosocial well-being program in Hong Kong

Abstract This study investigated the effects of “Healing Space,” a co-production- and school-based initiative aimed at promoting positive psychosocial health among secondary school students in Hong Kong. Designed according to the Self-Determination Theory, Healing Space sought to enhance positive me...

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Main Authors: Angel Hor Yan Lai, Shijuan Wei, Kylie Wing Yin Wong, Xuning Zhong, Jiacheng Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14256-w
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author Angel Hor Yan Lai
Shijuan Wei
Kylie Wing Yin Wong
Xuning Zhong
Jiacheng Sun
author_facet Angel Hor Yan Lai
Shijuan Wei
Kylie Wing Yin Wong
Xuning Zhong
Jiacheng Sun
author_sort Angel Hor Yan Lai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study investigated the effects of “Healing Space,” a co-production- and school-based initiative aimed at promoting positive psychosocial health among secondary school students in Hong Kong. Designed according to the Self-Determination Theory, Healing Space sought to enhance positive mental health attitudes, psychological well-being, and social connectedness among participants. Using a two-wave quasi-experimental design, students completed baseline and post-test assessments using standardized measurements based on their program participation (service co-producer group: n = 171; service user group: n = 400; waitlisted control group: n = 348). The results demonstrated significant interaction effects between ‘time’ and ‘group’ on self-compassion and mental illness-related self-stigma, with participants in the service co-producer and service user group showing a faster rate of change compared to the control group. There were no statistically significant differences between the service co-producer and service user group, suggesting that Healing Space exerted a comparable influence on both groups of students. Additionally, the program did not yield statistically significant findings in indicators of social connectedness. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-048ee90b567b4cb6b0048c000f142ffb2025-08-20T03:46:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-14256-wA quasi-experimental study on a co-production- and school-based psychosocial well-being program in Hong KongAngel Hor Yan Lai0Shijuan Wei1Kylie Wing Yin Wong2Xuning Zhong3Jiacheng Sun4Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong KongDepartment of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityAbstract This study investigated the effects of “Healing Space,” a co-production- and school-based initiative aimed at promoting positive psychosocial health among secondary school students in Hong Kong. Designed according to the Self-Determination Theory, Healing Space sought to enhance positive mental health attitudes, psychological well-being, and social connectedness among participants. Using a two-wave quasi-experimental design, students completed baseline and post-test assessments using standardized measurements based on their program participation (service co-producer group: n = 171; service user group: n = 400; waitlisted control group: n = 348). The results demonstrated significant interaction effects between ‘time’ and ‘group’ on self-compassion and mental illness-related self-stigma, with participants in the service co-producer and service user group showing a faster rate of change compared to the control group. There were no statistically significant differences between the service co-producer and service user group, suggesting that Healing Space exerted a comparable influence on both groups of students. Additionally, the program did not yield statistically significant findings in indicators of social connectedness. Implications for research, practice, and policy are discussed.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14256-wCo-productionPsychological well-beingSelf-compassionSocial connectionRelatednessSelf-Determination
spellingShingle Angel Hor Yan Lai
Shijuan Wei
Kylie Wing Yin Wong
Xuning Zhong
Jiacheng Sun
A quasi-experimental study on a co-production- and school-based psychosocial well-being program in Hong Kong
Scientific Reports
Co-production
Psychological well-being
Self-compassion
Social connection
Relatedness
Self-Determination
title A quasi-experimental study on a co-production- and school-based psychosocial well-being program in Hong Kong
title_full A quasi-experimental study on a co-production- and school-based psychosocial well-being program in Hong Kong
title_fullStr A quasi-experimental study on a co-production- and school-based psychosocial well-being program in Hong Kong
title_full_unstemmed A quasi-experimental study on a co-production- and school-based psychosocial well-being program in Hong Kong
title_short A quasi-experimental study on a co-production- and school-based psychosocial well-being program in Hong Kong
title_sort quasi experimental study on a co production and school based psychosocial well being program in hong kong
topic Co-production
Psychological well-being
Self-compassion
Social connection
Relatedness
Self-Determination
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14256-w
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