1. Associations between demographic factors and psychological distress among Chinese residents in Hong Kong: beyond socioeconomic classes.
- Author
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Sun, Kai Sing, Lam, Tai Pong, Lam, Kwok Fai, Chan, Hoi Yan, Lo, Tak Lam, Chao, David Vai Kiong, Yu, Yee Tsun Tiffany, and Lam, Edmund Wing Wo
- Subjects
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AGE distribution , *BLUE collar workers , *CHINESE people , *PSYCHOLOGY , *CLERKS , *DEMOGRAPHY , *PSYCHOLOGICAL distress , *HANDICRAFT , *PROPRIETARY hospitals , *INCOME , *JOB stress , *PRIMARY health care , *PUBLIC hospitals , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *RETIREMENT , *RISK assessment , *SALES personnel , *SELF-perception , *STUDENTS , *SURVEYS , *UNEMPLOYMENT , *WHITE collar workers , *MULTIPLE regression analysis , *PSYCHOSOCIAL factors , *SOCIOECONOMIC factors , *EDUCATIONAL attainment , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
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