Huang, Xinyao. Mental health status and associated factors among older Chinese immigrants: a cross-sectional study in Chiang Mai Province. Master's Degree(Mental Health). Chiang Mai University. Library. : Chiang Mai University, 2568.
Mental health status and associated factors among older Chinese immigrants: a cross-sectional study in Chiang Mai Province
Abstract:
Background: With the rise in voluntary migration among older adults, understanding their mental health in cross-cultural settings has become increasingly important. Older Chinese immigrants in Thailand represent a growing but understudied population facing unique psychosocial challenges. Objectives: This study aims to examine the prevalence of the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being among older Chinese immigrants in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and to identify key socio-demographic, cultural, and psychosocial factors associated with these mental health outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 204 older Chinese immigrants residing in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from December 2024 to February 2025. The questionnaire collected sociodemographic data and included the following Chinese instruments: the Outcome Inventory-21 (OI-21) for depression and anxiety symptoms, the WHO-5 Well-Being Index for psychological well-being, the Short Version of the Acculturative Stress Scale for the Chinese Community of Kolkata, the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (RULS-6), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Sense of Mastery Scale (SOMS-7). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression to identify associations between mental health outcomes and psychosocial factors. Results: Among 204 older Chinese immigrants in Chiang Mai, the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was 29.9% and 53.4%, respectively. Both depressive and anxiety symptoms were positively associated with acculturative stress and loneliness and negatively related to social support and sense of mastery (all p .001). In multiple regression analyses, depressive symptoms were positively predicted by acculturative stress and negatively predicted by perceived social support and sense of mastery (all p .001). Anxiety symptoms were positively associated with both acculturative stress and loneliness and negatively associated with perceived social support (all p .001). Regarding psychological well-being, multiple regression analysis revealed that female gender (p = 0.006), better perceived health status (p = 0.021), higher income (p = 0.007), more co-residing family members (p = 0.037), greater sense of mastery (p = 0.009), and lower levels of loneliness (p 0.001) were each significantly associated with higher well-being. Acculturative stress and social support were not significant predictors of well-being.