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Singaporeans are under significant environmental and psychological pressure, say sociologists.
Stress from competitive workplaces and dense living conditions is just one reason people are showing more signs of intolerance and ungraciousness towards one another.
As the population gets older and more diverse, Singapore will continue to grapple with its social consciousness in the year ahead.
"There is a gap between what we aspire to be and what we really are. We aspire to be a compassionate, a considerate society, we want to make sure people who are disadvantaged or need a leg up are included, like the elderly, the disabled, and the poor," commented Denise Phua, deputy chair of the government parliamentary committee for family and social development.
"But at the same time when it comes to difficult decisions as to whether I should locate that elderly centre right in my block or near my block or near where I live, that is another story altogether."
"People are feeling the population density. They are worried about their space and they're also trying to get used to having more older people in the environment," explained Asst Prof Angelique Chan from the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Anti-foreigner sentiments also took a more strident tone on the Internet. Foreigners living and working in Singapore were have been blamed for adding to the competition for jobs and space.
"The Singaporean dream has to be kept alive," said Dr Reuben Wong, associate professor of political science at NUS. "There must be this sense that if I work hard in my society, meritocracy still works so that I can get a better life than my parents.
"In Singapore I think baby boomers will actually be a real changing force. Because they will form 30 per cent of the population, they will be the ones who'll be vocal, more vocal than the current generation of elderly, they may actually induce significant changes in how we view our work lives, retirement, and health care," said Asst Prof Chan.
"This is a good thing because it means we have a system where people don't just get up and leave."
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