Subjective consequences of social movement participation: the impact of Occupy Central on mental health in Hong Kong

As social protests have proliferated globally, concerns have grown regarding their implications for population mental health. This study investigates the impact of the Occupy Central movement, a large-scale, nonviolent protest, on mental distress among Hong Kong adults. Drawing on three waves of data from the Hong Kong Panel Study of Social Dynamics (HKPSSD) collected before and after the 2014 movement, we find that participation in the Occupy Central significantly reduced the mental distress among Hong Kong residents. The effect is particularly pronounced among young cohorts born after 1980. These findings suggest that a peaceful protest could provide citizens with a channel to express their grievance and thereby alleviate psychological strain. The study offers important insights into the challenges governments face in evaluating and responding to the mental health consequences of social movements in contemporary societies.