A survey of 3,159 older Chinese Americans in Chicago found a possible link between discrimination and poor health, reports Reuters.
One in five in the survey said they experienced some form of discrimination. Only 23 percent of those who said they experienced discrimination both took action and spoke to others about the incident.
“Discrimination may operate as a stressor that decreases older adults’ self-esteem and increases the risk of psychological distress, social isolation, thus leading to poorer health status,” said Dr. Xinqui Dong of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and director of its Chinese Health, Aging and Policy Program (pictured).
Dong said language barriers and “the traditional Chinese cultural value of collectivism and the belief that tolerance is a ‘key moral virtue’” may be the reason why more older Chinese American don’t more aggressively respond to discrimination.
A more in depth look at the study can be found in Reuters.
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