Abstract
Older immigrants are at risk of developing mental illness. This study aims to examine mental health service utilization among older Chinese immigrants, using a mixed-method design. Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use informed an examination of predictors of mental health services utilization, and semi-structured individual interviews were conducted to illuminate these findings. Participants who were younger, had less than a high school education, and had a higher level of depressive symptoms were more likely to use mental health services. Stressors of psychological distress included breakdown of support system, language barriers, and financial hardships. Factors influencing mental health services use included information from family/friends, referrals from primary care physicians, perceived needs for help, mental health stigma, and culturally competent mental health professionals. Understanding the factors associated with seeking mental health services for older Chinese immigrants could help health care providers to develop early screening programs and culturally sensitive interventions.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank all the subjects who participated in the study, the staff at Queens Library in Flushing, Confucius pharmacy in Manhattan Chinatown, and Chinese-American Sunshine House in Brooklyn. We would also like to thank research assistants Xiaoxia Huang and Winnie Hu for their help with data collection, transcription, and translation.
Funding
The study was supported by the Research Council Grant (RC-18-AA-00079) from Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey.
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Chao, YY., Seo, J.Y., Katigbak, C. et al. Utilization of Mental Health Services Among Older Chinese Immigrants in New York City. Community Ment Health J 56, 1331–1343 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00570-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00570-2