Lunar New Year source of stress for young adults

Tet Nguyen Dan, to be celebrated on 29 January, is increasingly a source of anxiety due to financial pressures and social  expectations. Psychotherapy institutes report an increase in requests of up to 30 per cent in the weeks leading up to the holiday. Psychologists highlight the conflict between traditional values and urban lifestyles.

Hanoi (AsiaNews) - Tet Nguyen Dan, the Lunar New Year which this year will be celebrated on 29 January, is for many Vietnamese the most important time of the year, but for more and more people it is becoming a source of stress and anxiety.

Financial pressures, social expectations and family obligations weigh particularly heavily on young adults, prompting many to turn to mental health professionals to help them cope.

Requests for counselling from psychologist Nguyen Huong Lan at the Vietnam Happiness Academy have increased by 30 per cent in recent weeks. ‘Tet should be about joy and family reunion, not a stressful burden on the family. A positive outlook can make everything easier,' Lan told local daily Vn Express.

Young adults are particularly affected. Hanh, 33, avoids returning to her hometown for fear of her parents' incessant questions about marriage. Overwhelmed by the pressures and work deadlines at the end of the year, she developed an anxiety disorder diagnosed at the Mai Huong Psychiatric Hospital.

According to Nguyen Duc Loc, psychologist and director of the Institute for Social Life Studies, people over the age of 25 are more exposed to expectations related to economic stability, work bonuses and marriage.

A VnExpress survey in 2023 revealed that 44% of respondents fear Tet because of the high expenses accompanying the holiday, 27% are worried about being asked about work income, 26% feel stressed about questions about their relationship status and 3% are worried about having to work during the Lunar New Year period.

The conflict between traditional Vietnamese values, centred on the family, and the individualism that is increasingly prevalent in the cities amplifies the stress. While urban youth value privacy, elderly relatives left behind in rural areas interpret personal questions as signs of caring.

However, questions about promotions, family plans or marriage generate discomfort, especially when year-end deadlines intensify the pressure.

Psychologist Nguyen Thi Tam warns that prolonged stress can seriously affect physical and mental health, causing problems such as liver dysfunction, depression or anxiety disorders.

To relieve these stresses, Nguyen Huong Lan suggests setting clear goals, taking a humorous approach to intrusive questions, and focusing on self-care activities.