Integrating resilience and positive youth development for the promotion of positive health behaviours among ethnic minorities: a conceptual framework

ABSTRACT

Hong Kong, a traditionally ethnically homogeneous society, seems to fail encouraging positive development of ethnic minority young people. Studying resilient ethnic minority, young adults may provide insights into developing programmes and policies to encourage positive health behaviours. A pilot qualitative study of individual interviews with South Asian young minority adults was conducted to develop a conceptual framework by incorporating resilience and positive youth development. Based on the findings of this study, resilience and positive youth development contribute to young ethnic minorities’ positive health behaviours. This study may benefit culturally tailored research implications for young ethnic minorities.

KEYWORDS:

• Ethnic minority
• Hong Kong
• resilience
• positive youth development

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. The writing of this manuscript was partially supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

Notes on contributors

Gizem Arat

Paul W. C. Wong is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong and an Honorary Research Fellow of the Hong Kong Police College, The Hong Kong Police Force.

Paul W. C. Wong

Gizem Arat is a Post-doctoral fellow in the Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong.