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

• 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
• ISSN: 1354-8506; 1465-3966
• DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2020.1714063

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.