A gendered analysis of symptom severity and perceived social support of Hong Kong Chinese parents with depression

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on significant gender differences in psychological distress and perceived social support (PSS) among a clinical sample of Hong Kong Chinese depressed parents (N_men = 17, N_women = 94; 73.8% belonging to 30−50 age group). Men’s mental health and PSS were found to relate to their employment status, while women’s to family income and family origin. PSS had positive effects on psychological wellbeing of both genders, while gender-specific effects were found for some subtypes of PSS. The results of our study contributed a gendered perspective and validated the importance of PSS to understanding and helping depressed parents’ recovery.

KEYWORDS:

• Depression
• perceived social support
• Chinese parents
• women immigrants

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was financially supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, on the basis of which the H.O.P. E. project of the New Life Psychiatric Association was developed.