Beliefs about causes, symptoms, and stigma associated with severe mental illness among ‘highly acculturated’ Chinese-American patients

Susan Y Lin

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2013, vol. 59, issue 8, 745-751

Abstract: Background: Literature about experiences of mental illness among ethnic minority has tended to focus on first-generation migrants. This study fills that gap by exploring experiences among highly acculturated Chinese-American patients with mental illness. Materials: Twenty-nine participants completed semi-structured interviews based on Kleinman’s explanatory model, which were audio-taped, transcribed and coded for qualitative analysis. Discussion: Beliefs about the causes of mental illness included biological factors, head trauma and personal losses. Issues relating to stigma and shame were also discussed. Conclusion: Highly acculturated ethnic minority patients may ascribe to a biomedical model at the same time as ascribing to culture-specific beliefs.

Keywords: US; Chinese; explanatory model; mental illness; mental health beliefs; acculturation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:59:y:2013:i:8:p:745-751

DOI: 10.1177/0020764012454384

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