Cultural attribution of mental health suffering in Chinese societies: the views of Chinese patients with mental illness and their caregivers

Abstract

The findings of the present study suggest that Chinese people's well-being is significantly determined by a harmonious relationship with others in the social and cultural context. Psychotherapy emphasizing an individual's growth and autonomy may ignore the importance of maintaining interpersonal harmony in Chinese culture. The results of this study contribute to the essential knowledge about culturally sensitive nursing practices. An understanding of patient suffering that is shaped by traditional cultural values helps nurses communicate empathy in a culturally sensitive manner to facilitate the therapeutic relationship and clinical outcomes.

Experiences of Chinese Migrants Caring for Family Members With Schizophrenia in Australia

“…However, this was possibly achieved at the expense of the impact on mental health. Another possible explanation could be the carers unknowingly did not want to acknowledge subjective burden in caregiving as that would imply losing face in the Chinese culture (Hsiao et al, 2006;King & Myers, 1977). The other possible explanation could be the Chinese are more likely to express their psychological distress in other ways such as headaches, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, bodily weakness, fearfulness, palpitations, and abdominal pains rather than reporting subjective feeling of depression (Cheung, 1986).…”

“…One study reported that due to the influence of Confucian ideas and cultural familial expectations, interpersonal stresses might occur in the caregiving relationships. If the Chinese patients were unable to meet their familial role, they would experience blame from themselves, families, and friends for failure to meet the role (Hsiao et al, 2006). A qualitative study that recruited carers from ethnic minority communities including the Chinese found that the carers experienced disruptions in family relationships, emotional distress, and stigma.…”

“…The family is morally and socially (Phillips, Pearson, Li, Xu, & Yang, 2002). The family often feels ashamed and guilty about a family member suffering from mental illness (Hsiao, Klimidis, Minas, & Tan, 2006). Superstitious beliefs exist in the Chinese belief system in many countries.…”

Why do ethnic Chinese in the Netherlands underutilize mental health care services? Evidence from a qualitative study

“…This kind of "health pluralism" (Bodeker, Ong, Grundy, Burford, & Shein, 2005) is commonly reported in the literature; Chinese living in the West appear to adhere to multiple different health beliefs and practices (Hsiao et al, 2006) leading them, for example, to seek treatment from Western medical practitioners while simultaneously using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM; Chau & Yu, 2004).…”

“…Chinese migrants are often said to be skeptical about the value of Western treatment methods and to prefer seeking help from Chinese traditional healers or using traditional remedies (Hsiao, Klimidis, Minas, & Tan, 2006;Kung, 2003;Ma, 1999;Parker, 2001;Yang, CorsiniMunt, Link, & Phelan, 2009;Yip, 2004). It is also frequently suggested that Chinese tend to equate "mental illness" with "madness" and to regard seeking professional help as bringing shame to the family (Green, Bradby, Chan, & Lee, 2006).…”