This study examined cultural differences in health seeking for medically ambiguous symptoms in women from two culturally diverse communities. Thirty-five South Asian immigrants and 36 European Americans participated in a health history interview. Though the types and relative frequencies of practices were similar across the two groups, the goals and underlying logic supporting practices differed sharply. Among European Americans, practices were focused on the need to increase energy, creativity, and output; among South Asians, practices emphasized storing up strength through increased consumption or reduced expenditure. We conclude that the relationship between conceptual models of cause and cure depends on the ‘match’ of both to broader, unarticulated cultural models of health and illness. © 2008, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.

Cultural differences illness representation conceptual models Treatment seeking Health seeking

Social Values cultural anthropology Life Style mental health human middle aged health belief controlled study comparative study European American illness behavior interview Young Adult South Asia Humans ethnic difference Cross-Cultural Comparison Asian Americans Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation energy consumption female cultural factor symptom theoretical model Article history help seeking behavior adult European Continental Ancestry Group Food Habits Patient Acceptance of Health Care social class Somatoform Disorders concept formation Culture