Depression literacy among middle-aged and elderly chinese

Abstract

Previous mental health literacy studies have failed to address age and cultural factors simultaneously. Depression literacy (correct identification of depression, perceived efficacy of treatments, perceived etiology, and prognosis), stigma, and attitudes toward seeking mental health services among middle-aged (55 to 65 years-old) and older (66 to 87 years-old) Chinese-Canadians were assessed through interviews (N = 53). Of those interviewed, 11.3% could correctly identify depression as presented in a case vignette. Age, gender, and acculturation did not influence rates of depression recognition. Furthermore, acculturation and stigma did not predict attitudes toward help-seeking. To examine cross-cultural differences, responses of Chinese-Canadians were compared to a sample of same-aged residents of Alberta who had completed a depression literacy survey over the telephone (N = 869; Wang et al., 2007a). Significant differences in depression literacy, especially rates of correct identification of depression, and stigma between the Chinese-Canadian and Albertan samples were noted.