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Differential symptom expression and somatization in Thai versus U.S. children
Bahr Weiss1, Jane M Tram, John R Weisz
1Peabody College, Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203-5721, USA. bahr.weiss@vanderbilt.edu
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
|October 7, 2009
Summary
Cultural differences in stress responses may be linked to help-seeking behaviors. Thai children showed more somatic symptoms when seeking help, unlike U.S. children, suggesting help-seeking influences symptom presentation.
Area of Science:
- Cross-cultural psychology
- Child and adolescent mental health
- Symptom presentation
Background:
- Stress coping mechanisms vary across cultures.
- Previous research suggests Asian populations may somatize stress, while Western populations may express depressive symptoms.
- Alternative theories propose help-seeking behaviors influence symptom reporting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare somatic versus affective symptoms in U.S. and Thai children.
- To investigate the role of help-seeking behavior in symptom presentation differences.
- To examine these differences in both community and clinic-referred samples.
Main Methods:
- Comparative study design.
- Inclusion of U.S. and Thai children from community and mental health clinic samples.
- Assessment of somatic and affective/depressive symptoms.
Main Results:
- In clinic-referred samples, Thai children reported more somatic than depressive symptoms compared to U.S. children.
- In community samples, both Thai and U.S. children reported slightly more depressive than somatic symptoms.
- Symptom presentation differences were more pronounced in clinic-referred (help-seeking) samples.
Conclusions:
- Differences in somatic versus affective symptom presentation between U.S. and Thai children may be influenced by help-seeking behaviors.
- The clinical referral process could shape how distress is expressed and reported.
- Findings highlight the importance of considering cultural and help-seeking contexts in understanding child mental health symptoms.
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