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Abstract
Migration is a major life event that alters the functioning of individuals, often leading to the disruption of families and other social networks. When adaptation and coping fail, psychological distress may result. The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of psychological distress and to identify risk factors associated with the development of psychological distress symptoms in Chinese immigrants. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a Chinese community in Maryland, USA. A total of 247 people completed the survey. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic and prevalence data. Differences in means of psychological distress scores by group were examined with t-tests and analysis of variance. Multiple regression analysis was used to test multiple predictors of psychological distress scores. The prevalence of psychological distress among Chinese immigrants in this study was 22.3%, double the expected frequency in the general US population. Being younger, self-reported with poor health and financial strain predicted the development of psychological distress. The relatively high prevalence of psychological distress in adult Chinese immigrants has important implications for healthcare professionals in the area of cross-cultural mental health. Recommendations center on routine screening for psychological distress and building capacity for culturally sensitive interventions.
Notes on contributors
Mei Ching Lee is an Assistant Professor at University of Maryland, Baltimore and was an NIH funded Post-Doctoral Fellow in Bioethics. She is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese as well as English and volunteers in a Chinese community clinic that serves low income Asian families. Her research interest is in ethnic minority health.
Dr. Erika Friedmann is a Professor at University of Maryland, Baltimore. She is an expert in research method and statistics. Her primary research interest is in psychological health, specifically the health effects of having a pet as a companion.
Dr. Karan Kverno is an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University and a mental health nurse practitioner. Her research interest is the mental health of patients with dementia.
Dr. Robin Newhouse is a Professor and Chairperson of the Organizational System and Adult Health Department at University of Maryland, Baltimore. Her expertise is in health outcome research. She is also a Methodology Committee member of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).
Dr. Dou Zhang is a cardiologist at Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group. He is the president of Asian American Healthcare Incorporation, which serves the Asian population in Howard County, Maryland. He has coordinated community health fairs and educational seminars to promote physical and mental health in the Asian community.
Dr. Sue Thomas is an Emeritus professor. Her primary research interest is in psychological health and uses bio-psychosocial models to illustrate the relationship between physical health and psychological health.