Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: Barriers to Seeking Help Among Asian Immigrants

Asian Americans face unique challenges when immigrating to the United States, including intimate partner violence (IPV). Cultural factors such as male dominance and prioritization of family over individual needs often discourage women from seeking help. The purpose of this study is to examine the personal and environmental limitations of seeking help experienced by Asian American IPV survivors.

We collaborated with two not-for-profit agencies serving Asian American IPV survivors. These agencies, located in large metropolitan areas, surveyed 123 clients in three time periods between 2022 and 2024. Two-thirds of respondents identified as Korean, followed by Mongolian, Chinese, and other ethnicities. The survey included a stigma scale, barriers to accessing the criminal justice system, and open-ended responses.

Survivors identified fear of being blamed, feelings of shame, and lack of community support following disclosure as significant barriers to seeking help. In addition, respondents identified barriers to accessing the criminal justice system, including practical barriers (language, cost, and transportation), lack of knowledge about the system and how to contact it, fears about their partner's reaction, getting the abuser in trouble, losing custody of the children, upsetting the extended family, and lack of trust in the system. Survivors had mixed experiences with police interactions.

The findings highlight critical opportunities for prevention efforts, emphasizing the need for strategies to change norms that blame the victims, educate communities and faith leaders on how to support survivors, inform survivors on their legal options, and educate police and legal advocates on culturally sensitive interventions.