The Conception of Depression in Chinese Americans

Abstract

(from the chapter) The conception of depression has been demonstrated to vary across cultures. Relatively little research has assessed the conception of depression in individuals exposed to more than one culture secondary to cross-cultural living. This chapter reviews the literature on the conception of depression of ethnic Chinese people living in the US. The conception of depression in individuals living in a cross-cultural context is of interest due to increased worldwide migration. In the case of Chinese Americans, two-thirds are overseas-born and the majority of the remainder consists of children of immigrants. Thus, understanding how the conception of depression changes secondary to cross-cultural living is particularly salient for this group. The chapter compares and contrasts major differences between Chinese and American cultures that inform the conception of depression, and reviews empirical research on the conception of depression in Chinese Americans and potential variation secondary to differential exposures to Chinese and American cultures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)