Effect of Discrimination on Mental Health Service Utilization Among Chinese Americans
Michael S. Spencer, PhD, MSSW and
Juan Chen, MSW
Michael S. Spencer is with the School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Juan Chen is a doctoral student in social work and political science at the University of Michigan.
Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Michael S. Spencer, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 S University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106 (e-mail: spencerm{at}umich.edu).
Objectives. We examined the association between discriminationand mental health service use among a representative sampleof Chinese Americans.
Methods. Our data were derived from the 2-wave Chinese AmericanPsychiatric Epidemiological Survey, a strata-cluster surveyconducted in 1993 and 1994 in a western American city.
Results. Language-based discrimination was associated with higherlevels of use of informal services and seeking help from friendsand relatives for emotional problems. Negative attitudes towardprofessional mental health services were associated with greateruse of informal services.
Conclusions. The findings suggest that language-based discriminationinfluences patterns of mental health service use among ChineseAmericans. Implications for service providers and policymakersare discussed.
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