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Assessing Somatization with Asian American Clients

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Guide to Psychological Assessment with Asians

Abstract

This chapter examines the assessment of somatization with Asian-American clients, who have been traditionally identified as a group that is more likely to present with somatic symptoms as indicators of emotional distress. Somatization refers to physical symptoms that are often manifestations of psychological and emotional distress. In this chapter, we discuss what somatization is, why it occurs among Asian-American clients, and what clinicians can do to assess this symptom presentation. We examine three clusters of somatization: somatoform disorders, culturally bound somatic syndromes, and somatic symptoms. We discuss possible reasons Asian-Americans somaticize including a conceptualization of mind and body as integrated, stigma associated with mental health, and culturally sanctioned values regarding emotional expression. We then examine how to work with clients with these presentations and review assessments created specifically for Asian-American populations as well as more general assessments of somatization normed with Asian-American samples. Finally, we discuss implications for practice and research so as to further develop culturally appropriate assessments and interventions with Asian-American clients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Counseling & Educational Psychology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA

    Cara S. Maffini M.A. & Y. Joel Wong Ph.D.

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  1. Cara S. Maffini M.A.
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  2. Y. Joel Wong Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Cara S. Maffini M.A. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Nevada and Northcentral University, Graduate School Faculty, Prescott Valley, AZ, USA, Reno, Nevada, USA

    Lorraine T. Benuto

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Nicholas S. Thaler

  3. Graduate School Faculty, Prescott Valley, AZ, USA, Lake's Crossing Center: Maximum Security Facility for Forensic Mental Health Services (Reno, NV) & Northcentral University, Reno, Nevada, USA

    Brian D. Leany

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Maffini, C.S., Wong, Y.J. (2014). Assessing Somatization with Asian American Clients. In: Benuto, L., Thaler, N., Leany, B. (eds) Guide to Psychological Assessment with Asians. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0796-0_22

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