Interpersonal Psychotherapy in the Chinese Cultural Context: Exploring the Problem Areas With Cultural Specificity
(loss of only child) stigma; how role transitions are intensified by rapid urbanization, affecting both migrants and left-behind elders; how role disputes are navigated through indirect communication; and how interpersonal deficits are linked to systemic pressures from exam-oriented education. The authors argue that successful implementation of IPT necessitates cultural contextualization rather than structural alteration. Therapists are encouraged to act as cultural navigators, cultivating sensitivity to these internal social norms. By validating somatic expressions and reconstructing culturally resonant support systems, IPT can achieve clinical efficacy and social relevance to foster interpersonal recovery in China.
Authors
- Peixuan Tan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8960-1139)
- Yuting Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0393-512X)
- Chunyan Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2095-7833)
- Weihui Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5257-6122)
- Anqiao Li
- Wenjian Wu
- Manal Abdulrahman Al-Matary
- Xuesong Lin
- Chaochao Lu
- Xiaoyu Chen
- Yuexin Zhang
Institutions
- Central South University (CN)
- Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
- Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- American Journal of Psychotherapy
- Published
- 2026-05-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.20250042
- Primary Topic
- Cultural Differences and Values
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00