Abstract
Depression is a global public health problem, with broad social, economic and personal consequences. However, there exists incomplete understanding of the psychological distress of Chinese older adults, which is often exacerbated by the cultural and linguistic barriers at the individual, family and community levels. This paper reviews the epidemiology of depression among Chinese older adults and also explores the barriers to treatment. Since depression in the Chinese aging population is a multifaceted issue, a culturally appropriate and interdisciplinary approach to improve the quality of life and quality of care for the Chinese older adults is critical. We propose that leveraging cultural humility models in conjunction with existing cultural competency training could be a novel strategy to enhance training of healthcare professionals dealing with depression in Chinese aging populations. Future research is needed to explore the causal mechanism and consequences associated with depression in representative Chinese aging populations.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.