A qualitative inquiry of acculturation experiences of minoritised youth in Hong Kong

Despite the growing minoritised population in Hong Kong, little is known about their acculturation experiences. This article provides an in-depth understanding of the acculturation experiences of minoritised youth in Hong Kong including the associated impacts on their psychosocial adjustment and identity, the acculturative stress they faced and the coping strategies they adopted. Acculturation framework (Berry, 2003) and theories of socioecological processes (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006), resilience (Masten American Psychologist, 56(3), 227–238, 2001), and coping (Folkman Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 839–852, 1984) helped understand the acculturation experiences of minoritised youth in Hong Kong. Adopting qualitative research methods, the study conducted in-depth interviews with 20 minoritised youths from Pakistani, Indian, Nepalese, Bangladeshi and Filipino heritages living in Hong Kong. The analytic strategies included coding data and creating salient themes to answer the research questions under investigation. The study found minoritised youths’ acculturation experiences in five major domains including: (a) connection with family, intra-ethnic and pan-ethnic communities, and heritage identity; (b) living and schooling experiences, and connection with inter-ethnic community, and Hongkonger identity; (c) experiences of both heritage and host cultures, and dual or hyphenated identity; (d) acculturative stress; and (e) coping strategies. The study found that minoritised youths’ acculturation experiences exerted influence on their psychosocial wellbeing and identity. The findings have important implications for culturally responsive policy, practice, intervention, and research. Copyright © 2021 Australian Curriculum Studies Association.