Ethnicity and Health and Wellbeing of Older Chinese and South Asians in Hong Kong

With advancements in modern technology and improvements in sanitary conditions, global life expectancy has increased. Hong Kong, one of the world's most economically prosperous cities, 74 faces the dual challenge of an aging population and increasing ethnic diversity. For instance, between 2016 and 2021, the population of South Asian individuals aged 65 and older in Hong Kong rose from 7,870 to 10,350, a 31.51% increase. This study has examined the impact of ethnicity on the health and well-being of older adults in Hong Kong. A sample of 544 older adults participated in either a telephone survey (389 Hong Kong Chinese) and in-person interview (155 South Asians), recruited via random digital dialing of household telephone numbers (for the Chinese) and non-probability, purposive, and convenience sampling from communities with a high concentration of South Asian residents. The data were analyzed using regression analysis with ethnicity as the independent variable and health and well-being factors as the dependent variables. The results have indicated that being South Asian was significantly associated with lower quality of life, suggesting that South Asian older adults encountered more health and well- being challenges compared to their Hong Kong Chinese counterparts. These findings underscore the profound impact of ethnic disparities on health and well-being outcomes among older adults in Hong Kong. The results highlighted the need for targeted public health strategies that address the specific needs of ethnically diverse and aging populations. By recognizing these disparities, policymakers and service providers should develop more effective programs to reduce the ethnicity gap. This study has contributed to the little research that has been done on older ethnic minorities and formed the basis for future interventions for reducing ethnic health disparities to be further developed.