Conceptualization of depression among Japanese American elders

This study examined how Japanese American elders conceptualize depression. Japanese American elders age 65 years and older (N = 120) were recruited from a senior center in Los Angeles, CA. Participants read a brief vignette that described an individual who met the criteria for major depression and then filled out a series of questionnaires. Counter to prior theories, these Japanese American elders emphasized that the interpersonal criteria contributed to the individual's problem to a lesser degree than the somatic, emotional, and cognitive criteria. These elders expressed Explanatory Models of depression that were similar to Western Conceptualizations of depression. The results also indicated that having an important role within one's family and higher activity levels tended to be related to lower Geriatric Depression Scale scores. Finally, acculturation, generational status, sex, educational level, and income were not related to problem conceptualization. Clinical implications and directions for future research were discussed.