CityU announces latest results of idol worship study

A seminar on youth idol worship, co-organised by the Department of Applied Social Studies of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and City University of Hong Kong Press (CityU Press), was held  today (17 November). Academics from CityU announced the latest results from their idol worship study involving youngsters from Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

Youth experts, including Dr Yue Xiaodong, Dr Jacky Cheung Chau-kiu and Dr Dennis Wong Sing-wing, Associate Professors from the Department of Applied Social Studies of CityU, and Dr Jonathan Choi Fai-ming, Clinical Psychologist of Breakthrough, discussed the phenomena of adolescent idol worship with 120 teachers, parents and students at the seminar.

Dr Yue and Dr Cheung conducted a survey of 424 Form One to Form Three students in Hong Kong (average age 13.6) and 110 Form Two students in Shenzhen (average age 13.9) earlier this year to collect data on idol worship. The highlights of the survey’s results are as follows:

l          The level of devotion shown by Hong Kong youngsters towards their idols and the degree to which they see their idols as role models is weaker than that of their Shenzhen peers.

l          For Hong Kong teenagers, the more they worship their idols, the more money they spend on them. This trend is less emphasised amongst Shenzhen teenagers. 

l          The degree to which Hong Kong youngsters see their idols as role models has little impact on related expenditure. For Shenzhen youngsters, the more they see idols as role models, the more they spend on merchandise and related products.

l          For Hong Kong youngsters, the more senior they are, the lower their idol-related expenditure.

l          Hong Kong teens, especially girls, pay most attention to the appearance of their idols. This is also the leading factor affecting idol-related expenditure. Shenzhen youngsters place the most emphasis on the talent of their idols.

l          The “boy/girl next door” quality of idols is the most influential factor in determining the degree to which youngsters view them as idols or role models.

The most popular idols in Hong Kong and Shenzhen were also announced at the seminar. (Please refer to attached lists.)

“The results coincide with our long-term observations of adolescent idol worship,” said Dr Cheung. “Idols nowadays are relatively young and mediocre. Their character more closely resembles normal youngsters on the street. This tells us that youngsters identify with idols similar to themselves so that they can imitate them, project themselves onto them and even imagine that a spiritual link exists with their idols.”

Dr Yue and Dr Cheung have studied adolescent idol worship for ten years. Dr Yue has summarised the research results in My Favorite Idol?Your Die-hard Fans—The Study of Adolescent Idol Worship, published by CityU Press. The publication has been well-received by schools and parents since its launch at the Hong Kong Book Fair earlier this year.

Dr Wong also shared his views on adolescent idol worship at the seminar. He encouraged youngsters to take note of the efforts the idols had made to become successful, beyond just their attractive appearance. He said idols were normal people that had to work very hard to achieve fame and fortune.

Dr Choi, from Breakthrough, elaborated on idol worship from a psychological point of view and ways of handling youngsters’ feelings towards their heroes. Singer-songwriter Miss Jackie Chan Hiu-ki (KellyJackie) was also invited to discuss how idols and fans could build a constructive relationship.

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Attached: Lists of the most popular idols in Hong Kong and Shenzhen

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File: Idolworship.jpg

Caption: Dr Jacky Cheung from the Department of Applied Social Studies of CityU announces the latest results from the idol worship study of Hong Kong and Shenzhen youngsters.

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The most popular idols in Hong Kong and Shenzhen (present)

The most popular idols in Hong Kong and Shenzhen (two years ago)

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