Abuse and depression among Filipino foreign domestic helpers. A cross-sectional survey in Hong Kong

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to (1) explore physical and verbal abuse experience, perpetrators of abuse and abuse reporting behaviours of Filipino foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong and (2) examine associations between their abuse experience and depression level.

Study design: A cross-sectional survey METHODS: We purposively sampled participants at the Statue Square of Hong Kong on three Sunday afternoons between June and August 2017. Using a self-administered questionnaire, measures include sociodemographic and housing environment variables, physical and verbal abuse experience and depression level measured using the Depression Subscale of Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21-D). Multiple linear regression was performed to identify factors associated with the DASS-21-D score.

Results: The response rate was 86.1% and 105 participants completed the questionnaire. Overall, 20.5% and 34.4% had experienced physical and verbal abuse, respectively, in the past 12 months. Majority of perpetrators were female employers and children. Meanwhile, 16.7% of the abuse victims did not report their cases. Among those who reported, only a few (19.4%) reported their cases to formal organizations (agency and police). Factors significantly associated with the DASS-21-D score include physical abuse (unstandardized beta coefficient [B] = 1.68, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.12-3.34), verbal abuse (B = 1.58, 95% CI = 0.16-3.00), non-disclosure of physical abuse experience (B = 5.68, 95% CI = 0.18-11.18) and living space satisfaction (B = -1.50, 95% CI = -2.12 to -0.88).

Conclusions: Physical and verbal abuse among foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong were underreported to formal organizations and were associated with depression. Legislative enforcement of a comprehensive abuse reporting mechanism and mental health service should be considered.

Keywords: Depression; Female; Foreign domestic helper; Living environment; Migrant domestic worker; Physical abuse; Verbal abuse.