Racial differences in satisfaction with mental health services among victims of intimate partner violence

Research on mental health among victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) has often ignored racial minorities. As the US population has become more racially diverse, the dearth of research on racial minorities' experience with current mental health systems makes it challenging for service providers and practitioners to serve them adequately. This study hypothesized that satisfaction with mental health services would be different across race in both the general population and among IPV victims. This study used the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys. Logistic regression analyses were conducted. The study results revealed racial differences in satisfaction only in the IPV group. Race had effects on perceived helpfulness among IPV victims. Asian victims of IPV were more likely to perceive mental health services as helpful than any other race groups. Financial security had a positive effect both on subjective satisfaction and perceived helpfulness among IPV victims.