THE SMILE OF ASIA - ACCULTURATION EFFECTS ON SYMPTOM REPORTING

This study had two objectives: 1) to compare Canadian Asians with Caucasians on symptom reporting and response styles, and 2) to evaluate acculturation effects on symptom reporting and response styles in the Asian sample. Subjects were 292 young Caucasians and Asians, with the latter subdivided into low, medium or high levels of acculturation. Measures comprised psychological and somatic symptom report scales, a measure of behavioural affect expression, and scales tapping self-deception and impression management as response styles. Asians reported more cognitive anxiety than Caucasians, and Asians did not differ from Caucasians in frequency of somatic symptom reports or in preferred response styles (i.e., self-deception and impression management). A linear acculturation effect was noted on behavioural affect expression. These findings run clearly contrary to the common stereotype of Asian immigrants as being symptom under-reporters.