title: Ethnic differences in physical pain sensitivity: role of acculturation.
abstract: Although research suggests that Asian Americans are more reactive to physical pain than European Americans, some evidence suggests that the observed differences in ethnicity may actually reflect Asian Americans' differing levels of acculturation. Two studies were conducted to test this hypothesis. In Study 1, first- and second-generation Asian Americans and European Americans took part in a cold pressor task. Evidence of heightened pain responses was found only among first-generation Asian Americans. Study 2 further controlled for ethnicity and replicated this pattern in finding heightened pain reactions among mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong relative to Hong Kong Chinese students. These findings suggest a role for acculturation in accounting for ethnic differences in physical pain sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong Department of Psychology, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle Y P
authors.initials: MYP
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamamura
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Janschewitz
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult