Associations between demographic factors and psychological distress among Chinese residents in Hong Kong: beyond socioeconomic classes

Most studies highlighted the association between psychological distress and socioeconomic status (SES). There were weaker explanations for distress found in the middle classes, especially in Asian countries. We conducted a questionnaire survey with 1626 adult Chinese primary-care attenders from 13 p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Psychology, health & medicine Vol. 25; no. 9; pp. 1049 - 1061
Main Authors:	Sun, Kai Sing, Lam, Tai Pong, Lam, Kwok Fai, Chan, Hoi Yan, Lo, Tak Lam, Chao, David Vai Kiong, Yu, Yee Tsun Tiffany, Lam, Edmund Wing Wo
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England Taylor & Francis 20-10-2020 Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects:	Adult Age Age Factors Chinese Classes demographics Demography Female Hong Kong - epidemiology Humans Low income groups Male Middle Aged occupation Occupations Operators Primary care Psychological Distress Relative deprivation Retirees Sales Self Concept Self esteem Social Class Socioeconomic Factors Socioeconomic status Stress, Psychological - epidemiology Unemployed people Workers Young Adult Hong Kong Hong Kong China China Chinese occupation psychological distress socioeconomic status demographics
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Summary:	Most studies highlighted the association between psychological distress and socioeconomic status (SES). There were weaker explanations for distress found in the middle classes, especially in Asian countries. We conducted a questionnaire survey with 1626 adult Chinese primary-care attenders from 13 private and 6 public clinics in different districts of Hong Kong. Their demographic background and distress level measured by GHQ-12 were analysed. We found that respondents with younger age, better education, and lower income were more likely to be distressed. In a multiple logistic regression model, age and income, but not education, were significant predictors for distress. Highest rates of distress were found among the unemployed (45.5%) and the students (37.1%), followed by service workers and shop sales workers (33.0%), associate professionals (32.0%), and clerks (29.2%). Craftworkers (9.1%), plant and machine operators (11.5%), and retired people (12.8%) were least likely to be distressed, followed by professionals (21.0%). Apart from SES, the findings suggest that young age, academic and job stressors, and low self-esteem are significant factors for distress. These factors may be intensified in a Chinese context by peer comparison resulting in a state of relative deprivation.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	1354-8506 1465-3966
DOI:	10.1080/13548506.2020.1714063