Chronic Illness Beliefs and the Role of Social Networks among Chinese, Indian, and Angloceltic Canadians

Abstract

Members of three cultural groups (Indian, Chinese, and Angloceltic Canadians) in the greater Kingston area (total N= 182) completed a questionnaire concerning their illness beliefs and treatment intents for long-term illness (i.e., of more than one month duration).Items were grouped into scales on the basis of their affinity with either a biomedical, a psychosocial, or a phenomenological conception of long-term illness. Results indicated the existence of three culturally specific patterns of belief, and support was found for theories linking a person's illness beliefs to the treatment sought.