Anxiety symptom presentations in Han Chinese and Euro-Canadian outpatients: Is distress always somatized in China?

Extending a structural model of somatization to South Koreans: Cultural values, somatization tendency, and the presentation of depressive symptoms

“…This observation has since been empirically supported in several cross-cultural studies (Parker et al, 2001;Ryder et al, 2008;Zhou et al, 2011;Dere et al, 2013) comparing Chinese and 'Western' participants. Ryder and Chentsova-Dutton (2012) proposed that cultural scripts for distress and normative assumptions about symptoms and syndromes in a given cultural context might help shape the experience and expression of depression.…”

Detecting cross-cultural differences in somatization

“…These findings of cross-cultural differences in the extent of somatization are consistent with a comparison of Chinese and Canadian participants. 26 In contrast, an earlier study 29 also found associations between somatic symptoms and emotional distress but did not find cultural differences in somatization; however, this could be related to the measurement issues noted above (eg, the exclusion from analyses of some infrequently reported symptoms that might have differed by culture).…”

“…Taking anxiety as an example, a survey instrument may not query the respondent in a culturally appropriate way, perhaps using unfamiliar terms. 13,25 Alternatively, cultural conversational norms may discourage discussion of this topic, 26 and mentioning somatic symptoms may be a more socially acceptable substitute response.…”

The Diagnostic Utility of Separation Anxiety Disorder Symptoms: An Item Response Theory Analysis

“…To optimally inform an improved SAD taxonomy, future work is needed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of SAD symptoms in samples of youth representing the general population. Additionally, as different patterns of symptom expression have been found in other psychological disorders as a function of racial and cultural differences (Latzman et al, 2011; Zhou et al, 2011), differential SAD symptom functioning should also be explored with respect to different racial and ethnic groups. Given the racial and ethnic distribution of the present sample, the present analyses were not able to speak to such variations.…”