Personal and Social Losses as Predictors of the National and Local Identifications among Chinese Youth in Hong Kong

Abstract

ABSTRACT National and local identifications among the youth are likely to increase and reduce, respectively, following personal and societal losses experienced due to the localist riot. The localist riot occurs as an opposition to the nation or its regional government, such as that in Hong Kong. According to exchange theory, such riot losses are likely to change the identifications. With the aim to clarify this likelihood, this study surveys 2,000 Hong Kong Chinese youths aged 18–29 years. The survey measured the youth identifications in 2020 and 2019 and riot losses in early 2020 to predict national or local identifications. Results first demonstrate the inverse relationship between national (i.e., Chinese) and local (i.e., Hongkonger) identifications. Essentially, national identification increased with societal riot loss experienced unconditionally and personal riot loss experienced conditionally on prior national identification. Conversely, local identification decreased with personal and societal riot losses experienced conditionally on prior local identification. Results imply that the youth identifications can change due to the riot loss experienced.