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01-08-2016 | Original Paper

Experiences of Social Support Among Chinese Immigrant Mental Health Consumers with Psychosis

Authors: Zhen Hadassah Cheng, Ming-Che Tu, Lawrence Hsin Yang

Published in: Community Mental Health Journal | Issue 6/2016

Abstract

Limited research has investigated how culture impacts expressions of social support, which is crucial in developing culturally sensitive care. Using a classification based on theories of social support, we examined the social support experiences of 49 Chinese immigrant mental health consumers with psychosis, paying particular attention to frequency and sources. We found that the most common forms of social support were belonging and companionship, perceived emotional support, social control, and perceived instrumental support, while self-esteem and sense of mastery were the least common forms. Family and friends were the main sources of support. These results demonstrate the influence of Confucian values of renqing (or fulfillment of relational obligations) and guanxi (or social networks) and the negative effects of stigma in diminishing the social standing of these consumers by compromising ‘personhood.’ Clinical implications for increasing the cultural competency of clinicians and improving the mental health outcomes of Chinese immigrants are discussed.

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Title: Experiences of Social Support Among Chinese Immigrant Mental Health Consumers with Psychosis
Authors: Zhen Hadassah Cheng
Ming-Che Tu
Lawrence Hsin Yang
Publication date: 01-08-2016
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Community Mental Health Journal / Issue 6/2016
Print ISSN: 0010-3853
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2789
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016-0008-4

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Experiences of Social Support Among Chinese Immigrant Mental Health Consumers with Psychosis

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