Help-Seeking Among Battered Immigrant Filipina, Indian, and Pakistani Women in the United States: Perceived Barriers and Helpful Responses

Abstract

This study examines the nature of helpful responses received and barriers to seeking help following the experience of intimate partner violence among women of Filipina, Indian, and Pakistani descent (N = 143) in the United States. Instead of aggregating women from diverse backgrounds, we investigated these groups of women separately. A content analysis found that while emotional support was the most helpful response, there were important variations by ethnicity and immigration position in the perceived helpfulness of various assistance resources as well as barriers to help-seeking. This study of disaggregated Asian immigrant groups enhances our understanding of both common and unique challenges faced by each immigrant group, which can inform development of socioculturally relevant intervention programs.

Keywords: Asian immigrant survivors; criminal justice system; domestic violence; intimate partner violence; socioculturally responsive/OR relevant intervention; within-group differences.