ASIAN ETHNICITY AND THE SENSE OF PERSONAL CONTROL

The relationship between the sense of personal control and psychologic al wellbeing is well established, bur this association may be specific to Western cultures. In this study we examine the relationship betwee n Asian culture and the sense of personal control, and the impact of p erceived control on depression and anxiety among Asians and non-Asians Using the World Values Survey and the combined responses of four surv eys in the United States, we find that Asian Americans and Asians in A sia (Japan, South Korea, China, and India) both report lower levels of perceived control than non-Asians Furthermore, the sense of personal control has less of an impact on psychological distress for Asians. Fi ndings are interpreted in terms of Asian collectivist values. Compared with individualistic Western cultures, Asian cultures emphasize selfl ess subordination to family and community, which may decrease levels o f personal control. Furthermore, the dictates of collectivist cultures are such that high levels of personal control among Asians may be a n orm violation. For this reason, high levels of perceived control may b e associated less strongly with psychological well-being for Asians.