Citation

Zhang J, Norvilitis JM. J. Pers. Assess. 2002; 79(3): 492-511.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Society for Personality Assessment, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1207/S15327752JPA7903_06

PMID

12511017

Abstract

We explored the possibility of applying 4 psychological scales developed and commonly used in the West to Chinese culture. The participants, 273 Chinese and 302 Americans, completed measures of self-esteem (Self-Esteem Scale; Rosenberg, 1965), depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale; Radloff, 1977), social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, & Farley, 1988), and suicidal ideation (Scale for Suicide Ideation; Beck, Kovacs, & Weissman, 1979). All scales were found to be reliable and valid cross culturally. Comparative analyses suggest that gender differences on all 4 scales are smaller among the Chinese than the Americans. Americans were more likely to score higher on the socially desirable scales (self-esteem and social support) and lower on the socially undesirable scale (suicidal ideation). However, no cultural differences were found in this study on the measure of depression.

RESULTS suggest that, with a few considerations or potential modifications, the current measures could be used in Chinese culture.

Language: en

Keywords

Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; China; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Depression; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Humans; Male; Psychological Tests; Reproducibility of Results; Self Concept; Sex Factors; Social Support; Suicide; United States