A team translated a Western depression questionnaire into Mandarin and administered it in rural China. Many respondents endorsed somatic items (fatigue, headaches, sleep disturbance) but rarely endorsed items about guilt or hopelessness. The researchers conclude that depression is rare in this population.
The pattern of predominantly somatic symptoms in this sample best illustrates which concept?
- Acheck_circle
Cultural variation in symptom expression of depression
- B
Universal invariance of psychiatric symptoms
- C
A new disorder distinct from depression
- D
Malingering by survey respondents
Explanation
Cultures shape how distress is expressed and reported. The data illustrate variation, not invariance, do not warrant a new diagnostic category, and provide no evidence of intentional symptom fabrication.