process also plays a role in western people, but only the
effect of this comparison is more strong in Japanese people).
Kirmayer [42] pointed out that in some cultures the
suppression of distress could be a means of successful coping
and, at the same time, might provide a mark of moral
distinction. Likewise, the suppression of positive affect
may represent a moral distinction and socially desirable
behavior in Japanese society.
These examples suggest that a common bias exists in
cross-cultural comparison of mental health (e.g., depression)
and other psychosocial conditions (e.g., self-efficacy)
due to the wording of the items: that is, particularly
responses to positive items, such as those tapping work
engagement, are likely to be biased among various cultural
groups.