Emergent Well-Being: A Qualitative Study on Cultural Identity and Belonging of Emigrated Hong Kongers Post-2019

This study examined the cultural identity and well-being of emigrated Hong Kongers amid sociopolitical changes post-2019. Utilizing constructivist grounded theory and art-based research, it involved four Hong Kongers who recently emigrated to the United Kingdom. A custom method called object-interview-object explored narratives through participants' personal objects, complemented by the researcher's self-reflexive papermaking. Findings revealed a dynamic interplay between memory, belonging, and well-being, highlighting the heterogeneity of cultural identity and the prevalence of ambivalence and non-belonging. The study proposes "Emergent Well-being" as a theory that centers emigrants' perspectives in understanding their well-being within a collective and systemic context. It also underscores the necessity for art therapists to engage in approaches that respect the evolving identities of emigrants for effective and ethical support.