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Sex differences in minor psychiatric morbidity among three aboriginal groups in Taiwan: the effects of lineage

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Tai Ann Cheng  and
Mutsu Hsu
Tai Ann Cheng*
Affiliation:
Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica; Institute of Public Health and Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC)
Mutsu Hsu
Affiliation:
Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica; Institute of Public Health and Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC)
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Tai Ann Cheng, Section of Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC).
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Synopsis

Sex differences in minor psychiatric morbidity (MPM) have been investigated among three aboriginal groups in Taiwan. The study included both ethnographic observation and a sample survey (N = 733) using a modified Clinical Interview Schedule. The findings lend support to the hypothesis that although a female excess of MPM will be found among the patrilineal group (the Bunun), the reverse will be observed in the matrilineal group (the Ami); no such difference will be found in the bilateral group (the Atayal). Further analysis revealed sex differences in the mean duration of MPM and similar incidence ratios between two sexes in these three groups. Possible sociocultural explanations are proposed.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue 4 , November 1993 , pp. 949 - 956
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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