With Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam results coming out next week, student stress levels have hit a record high since the pandemic, a youth group said on Thursday.

A survey by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) found over half of the 1,456 secondary students interviewed reported significant stress.

Among form 6 students awaiting DSE results, 52.9 percent reported they were highly stressed, a sharp rise from 41.7 percent last year and a record-high since 2020.

Meanwhile, 57.1 percent of form 5 students preparing for upcoming exams also reported high stress levels.

Andy Chan, supervisor of the HKFYG, said economic uncertainty and shrinking job prospects are weighing on young people's minds.

"In 2020, there was Covid. It meant the whole of society, including students, encountered uncertainty. They didn't know what was happening... Compared to recent research, it's pretty similar because we don't know how the economy will go, will it rebound or be steady as right now," he said.

"We found that they feel pretty worried about whether they have good prospects after they make a choice in the Jupas [Joint University Programmes Admissions System], whether they will have a good job after they graduate."

Chan also highlighted growing anxiety about artificial intelligence, with many students fearing their chosen study paths and potential careers could be marginalised or even eliminated by the time they enter the workforce.

In response, he strongly encouraged students to develop contingency plans regardless of their exam results.

Chan also said the HKFYG will enhance its support services next week to provide better assistance for students and parents navigating the stressful period.