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Elderly Chinese‐ and Caucasian‐Americans compared on measures of psychic distress, somatic complaints and social competence
Author(s) -
Raskin Allen,
Chien ChingPiao,
Lin KehMing
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.930070308
Subject(s) - distress , moderation , feeling , mood , psychology , clinical psychology , gerontology , chinese americans , somatization , psychiatry , medicine , ethnic group , anxiety , social psychology , sociology , anthropology
Elderly Chinese‐Americans residing in the community were compared to a sample of elderly community resident Caucasian‐Americans on tests that measured psychological and somatic complaints, mood states and ability to perform activities of daily living. Contrary to expectations based on prior results, the Chinese‐Americans did not admit to more somatic distress or somatic symptoms than their Caucasian‐American counterparts. Rather, they reported less somatic as well psychic distress than the Caucasian‐Americans with few exceptions such as greater concern about memory loss. Chinese‐Americans showed greater moderation in expression of emotions and feelings than the Caucasian‐Americans. Chinese‐American women, however, rated themselves as less proficient in the performance of activities of daily living such as use of public transportation, handling of finances and caring for household chores than the Chinese‐American men and Caucasian‐American men and women.