Sixty percent of college students say they feel isolated and 80 percent feel like they are victims of social injustice. These are the results of a recent survey by the China Population Communication Center. Experts point out that family plays an important role in curbing the rising psychological issues of Chinese young people.

Chen Xi takes a closer look.

REPORTER:

For Shi Guannan, a student of the Shanghai-based East China University of Political Sciences and Law, the high instances of isolation, autism and other psychological disorders among college students is not surprising.

"Every year, our university has someone who kills themselves. The reasons for the suicides often sound ridiculous. I mean do you believe that someone would kill themselves just for losing two yuan or after failing a test? But that's what happens. I think there was a long process of accumulation. They could not figure out a way to vent out the emotions, then it had to break out someday. "

A recent survey by China Population Communication Center backs Shi Guannan's thinking. The survey, which polled 133 students in Beijing last year, showed that nearly half of the interviewees said that they lacked a sense of security in social interactions, half were not content with their lives, two of 10 felt trapped in a state of emptiness and 60 percent felt lonely.

Tong Xiaojun, an associate professor with the social work school of Beijing-based China Youth University for Political Sciences points a finger at unhealthy family environments.

"These young people are mostly the only child of the families. They don't have siblings, so they have nowhere to practice interacting, communicating and compromising with people. All of the skills they would need after they entered the society. Another reason is that parents love children in an unconsciously wrong way that they spoil them and overprotected them, all of these hampers children to develop ability to get through difficulties, make their own decisions and be independent. Finally, some parents are too busy earning money that they don't have to time to communicate with or educate their children."

The professor suggests that the country establish practical parenting skills training programs and build up community children's centers where children can play and grow together and where psychological counseling is available.

Chinese families have been through changes in recent years. On the Chinese mainland, 34 percent of people under the age of 25 are the only child in their families. And, as migrant workers flow from the countryside to cities, there are now more than 58 million children left behind in the rural area. They will grow up with their parents absent for most of the time.

Chen Xi, CRI News.