Relationships between Culture and Health Status: A Multi-Site Study of the Older Chinese in Canada* Daniel W.L. Lai, 1 Ka Tat Tsang, 2 Neena Chappell, 3 David C.Y. Lai 3 , and Shirley B.Y. Chau 4 RE ´ SUME ´ La pre ´sente e ´tude examine les relations entre la culture et l’e ´tat de sante ´ des aı ˆne ´s chinois au Canada. Les donne ´es ont e ´te ´ recueillies lors d’entretiens face a ` face avec un e ´chantillon transversal de 2 272 aı ˆne ´s chinois de 55 a ` 101 ans se ´lectionne ´s au hasard dans sept villes canadiennes. Leur e ´tat de sante ´ae ´te ´e ´value ´ en fonction du nombre de maladies chroniques, des limites de l’AVQ et de l’AIVQ, et de la Medical Outcome Study Short Form SF-36. Bien que les variables culturelles n’expliquent qu’une petite partie de la variance dans l’e ´tat de sante ´, e ˆtre davantage au courant des mode `les traditionnels de croyance a ` la sante ´ des Chinois est important si l’on veut pre ´voir la sante ´ physique, le nombre de maladies, et les limites associe ´es aux activite ´s instrumentales de la vie quotidienne. D’autres variables culturelles, notamment la religion, le pays d’origine, et la pe ´riode de re ´sidence au Canada e ´taient aussi importantes afin de pre ´voir certaines variables associe ´es a ` la sante ´. Les interventions visant a ` ame ´liorer la sante ´ devraient porter sur des strate ´gies permettant d’ame ´liorer la compatibilite ´ culturelle entre les utilisateurs et le syste `me de distribution des soins. ABSTRACT This study examined the relationships between culture and the health status of older Chinese in Canada. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with a cross-sectional, randomly selected sample of 2,272 older Chinese between 55 and 101 years of age in seven Canadian cities. Health status was assessed by the number of chronic illnesses, by limitations in ADL and IADL, and by information on the Medical Outcome Study Short Form SF-36. Although cultural variables explained only a small proportion of variance in health status, having a stronger level of identification with traditional Chinese health beliefs was significant in predicting physical health, number of illnesses, and limitations on IADL. Other cultural variables, including religion, country of origin, and length of residence in Canada, were also significant in predicting some health variables. Interventions to improve health should focus on strategies to enhance cultural compatibility between users and the health delivery system. 1 Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary 2 Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto 3 Centre on Aging, University of Victoria 4 Faculty of Health and Social Development, School of Social Work, University of British Columbia–Okanagan * This research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada under the strategic theme Society, Culture and Health of Canadians (Grant No: 828-1999-1032). Manuscript received: / manuscrit rec ¸u : 18/08/04 Manuscript accepted: / manuscrit accepte ´ : 29/03/07 Mots cle ´s : vieillissement, aı ˆne ´s chinois, personnes a ˆge ´es, culture, sante ´ Keywords: aging, Chinese elderly, older people, culture, health Requests for offprints should be sent to:/Les demandes de tire ´s-a `-part doivent e ˆtre adresse ´es a `: Daniel W.L. Lai, Ph.D. Professor & Alberta Heritage Health Scholar Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB T2N1N4 (dlai@ucalgary.ca) Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement 26 (3) : 171 - 184 (2007) 171 doi: 10.3138/cja.26.3.171