Consequences of impending national change: symptoms of psychological distress among homosexual and heterosexual men living in Hong Kong.
Now that Hong Kong has reverted to Chinese rule, the people of Hong Kong face many social and political uncertainties. It is likely that residents are experiencing significant symptoms of psychological distress. Homosexual men may be particularly apprehensive about impending government change given the persecution of those with this sexual orientation in the People's Republic of China. The Brief Symptom Inventory was administered to heterosexual (N = 46) and homosexual (N = 26) men living in Hong Kong. As predicted, both groups showed elevated symptoms levels compared to nonpatient norms (ps < .001) and the homosexuals were found to have more intense stress symptoms than heterosexuals. Correlations between concerns about life after 1997 and depression and hopelessness were significant (ps < .01). Surprisingly, somatization was the least elevated symptom among Chinese participants and of equivalent magnitude in both sexual orientation groups. Socio-political implications of the findings are discussed.
Hurwich
J
J
California School of Professional Psychology-Alameda, USA. jhurwich@sirius.com
Tori
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D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006076:Government; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011057:Politics; D012922:Social Change; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology