Are Chinese Social Workers Humble? Validating Cultural Humility Scales with Older Adults

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to validate the Chinese version of the Cultural Humility Scale (C-CHS) and assess older adult clients’ perceptions of social workers’ humility. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 233 older adults through face-to-face interviews at community day care centers. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the scale's structure, reliability, and validity. Results: The C-CHS demonstrated a valid two-factor structure. A key paradox emerged: older clients perceived high cultural humility from social workers, yet had extremely limited familiarity with their backgrounds. Discussion: This paradox is not a failure of practitioners but a symptom of a structural crisis of professionalization and role ambiguity in China. The C-CHS is a suitable tool for assessing cultural humility among older adults in China, and this study's key implication is an urgent need for broader social advocacy to build public trust, rather than just microlevel practitioner training, to foster deeper, reciprocal relationships.

Keywords

cultural humility cultural background cultural humility scales psychometric properties social work older adults

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