Cultural Expressions of Distress

Abstract

We test whether acculturation to American society is linked to higher depressive symptoms but lower neurasthenia symptoms. Depression and neurasthenia represent compelling contrasts since the first is a prevalent mental health problem in the United States and the latter is a common diagnostic entity in China. We also examine whether financial stress interacts with acculturation to explain depressive and neurasthenia symptoms. Data come from a community study conducted on Chinese Americans residing in the greater Los Angeles area ( N = 1610). Analyses show a main effect between acculturation and depressive symptoms, but an interaction between financial stress and acculturation in explaining neurasthenia. The results argue for the inclusion of multiple indicators of mental health and cultural expressions of distress when investigating racial and ethnic minority groups.