Cultural Differences in Self‐Rated Health: The Role of Influence and Adjustment

Previous studies have demonstrated cross‐cultural differences in the levels of self‐rated health (SRH), an individual's overall perception of their health, and that Korea and Japan tend to show relatively poor SRH despite higher life expectancy compared to countries like the United States. While it has been suggested that response styles and macro‐level cultural values contribute to such differences, there is limited research on what other factors might be. The present study focused on influence and adjustment strategies as a potential cultural factor that could partly explain the cultural differences in SRH. Results from structural equation modeling have shown that Americans reported greater influence and positive reappraisal, plus a lower adjustment of goals than Japanese individuals, which partially explained the higher SRH among Americans than in the Japanese. These patterns were found even when a more objective measure of health (i.e., chronic conditions) was controlled for. Together, the findings highlight the role of influence and adjustment in understanding cultural differences in SRH.