Acculturative Factors Contributing to Perceptions Towards Mental Health Services among Chinese Americans.

摘要

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between acculturative factors such as: level of acculturation, level of acculturative stress, and level of social support, and how Chinese Americans in Southern California view mental illness. Participants were recruited through non-random, convenience sampling from social and professional groups within the Chinese American community. The initial sample consisted of 194 Chinese American participants, and a final sample of 171 samples was used to examine the five hypotheses in this study. Data collection occurred online via Qualtrics. Firstly, it was hypothesized that there would be a significant relationship between level of acculturation and beliefs towards mental illness. Secondly, it was hypothesized was that there would be a significant relationship between level of acculturative stress and beliefs towards mental illness. Thirdly, it was hypothesized that there would be a significant relationship between level of social support and beliefs towards mental illness. Fourthly, it was hypothesized that there would be a significant difference in beliefs towards mental illness in Chinese Americans based on their origin of education (Western-educated vs. Eastern-educated). Fifthly, the predictor variables would be analyzed to determine which had accounted for the greatest amount of variability in scores on beliefs towards mental illness. Hypotheses 1, 2, and 4 were supported by the data, while hypothesis 3 was not. Additionally, level of acculturative stress accounted for the greatest amount of variability. Future direction and limitations are discussed.