Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an issue that affects women across all cultures. It is essential to understand how women could be assisted to prevent and reduce the effects of violence. This systematic review examined studies that made cross-cultural comparisons of differences in help-seeking behaviour of women who have experienced IPV. Databases including the Cochrane Library, PsychInfo and others were searched for literature published between 1988 and 2016. Seventeen articles with a total of 40,904 participants met the inclusion criteria. This review found some differences in the procurement of support across cultural groups. While Caucasian women were more likely to seek assistance from formal services such as mental health and social services, Latina/Hispanic and African-American women were more likely to utilize other types of formal supports such as hospital and law enforcement services. The findings regarding utilization of informal support systems showed mixed results. Overall, the findings of this systematic review suggest that women from culturally diverse minority backgrounds should be educated and encouraged to access support before and after experiencing IPV. Further, potential barriers to help-seeking need to be identified and addressed across women from all cultures.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ellsberg M, Jansen HM, Heise L, Watts CH, García-Moreno C. Intimate partner violence and women’s physical and mental health in the WHO multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence: an observational study. Lancet. 2008;371(9619):1165–72.
World Health Organization. Global and regional estimates of violence against women: prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2013.
World Health Organization. Preventing intimate partner and sexual violence against women: taking action and generating evidence. Geneva: World Health Organisation; 2010.
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. International migration report 2013. New York: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division; 2013.
Guruge S, Khanlou N, Gastaldo D. Intimate male partner violence in the migration process: intersections of gender, race and class. J Adv Nurs. 2010;66(1):103–13.
Rodriguez MM, Valentine JM, Son JB, Muhammad MM. Intimate partner violence and barriers to mental health care for ethnically diverse populations of women. Trauma Violence Abus. 2009;10(4):358–75.
White ME, Satyen L. Cross-cultural differences in intimate partner violence and depression: a systematic review. Aggress Violent Behav. 2015;24:120–30.
Cornally N, McCarthy G. Help-seeking behaviour: a concept analysis. Int J Nurs Pract. 2011;17(3):280–8.
Kaukinen C. The help-seeking strategies of female violent-crime victims: The direct and conditional effects of race and the victim-offender relationship. J Interpers Violence. 2004;19(9):967–90.
Barrett B, St. Pierre MT: Variations in women’s help seeking in response to intimate partner violence: findings from a Canadian population-based study. Violence Against Women 2011;17(1):47–70.
Hyman I, Forte T, Du Mont J, Romans S, Cohen MM. Help-seeking behavior for intimate partner violence among racial minority women in Canada. Women’s Health Issues 2009;19(2):101–8.
Raj A, Silverman JG. Domestic violence help-seeking behaviors of South Asian battered women residing in the United States. Int Rev Victimol. 2007;14(1):143–70.
Ingram EM. A comparison of help seeking between Latino and non-Latino victims of intimate partner violence. Violence Against Women. 2007;13(2):159–71.
Cho H. Intimate partner violence among Asian Americans: risk factor differences across ethnic subgroups. J Fam Violence. 2012;27(3):215–24.
Cho H, Kim W. Intimate partner violence among Asian Americans and their use of mental health services: comparisons with White, Black, and Latino victims. J Immigr. Minor Health. 2012;14(5):809–15.
Du Mont J, Hyman I, O’Brien K, White ME, Odette F, Tyyskä V. Factors associated with intimate partner violence by a former partner by immigration status and length of residence in Canada. Ann Epidemiol. 2012;22(11):772–7.
Hilbert JC, Krishnan SP. Addressing barriers to community care of battered women in rural environments: creating a policy of social inclusion. J Health Soc Policy. 2000;12(1):41–52.
Overstreet NM, Quinn DM. The intimate partner violence stigmatization model and barriers to help seeking. Basic Appl Soc Psychol. 2013;35(1):109–22.
Bent-Goodley TB. Health disparities and violence against women: why and how cultural and societal influences matter. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2007;8(2):90–104.
Raj A, Silverman J. Violence against immigrant women: the roles of culture, context, and legal immigrant status on intimate partner violence. Violence Against Women. 2002;8(3):367.
Bauer H, Rodriguez M, Quiroga S, Flores-Ortiz Y. Barriers to health care for abused Latina and Asian immigrant women. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2000;11(1):33–44.
Rodríguez M, Sheldon W, Bauer H, Pérez-Stable E. The factors associated with disclosure of intimate partner abuse to clinicians. J Fam Pract. 2001;50(4):338–44.
Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, The PRISMA Group. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med. 2009;6(6):e1000097. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed1000097.
Ackerman J, Love TP. Ethnic group differences in police notification about intimate partner violence. Violence Against Women. 2014;20(2):162–85.
Ahmed AT, McCaw BR. Mental health services utilization among women experiencing intimate partner violence. Am J Manag Care. 2010;16(10):731–8.
Durfee A, Messing J. Characteristics related to protection order use among victims of intimate partner violence. Violence Against Women. 2012;18(6):701–10.
El-Khoury MY, Dutton M, Goodman LA, Engel L, Belamaric RJ, Murphy M. Ethnic differences in battered women’s formal help-seeking strategies: a focus on health, mental health, and spirituality. Cult Divers Ethn Minor Psychol. 2004;10(4):383–93.
Goodman LA, Dutton MA. Women’s intimate partner violence strategy index: development and uses. Paper presented at the Seventh International Family Violence Research Conference 2001, Durham, NH.
Goodman LA, Dutton MA, Weinfurt K, Cook S. The intimate partner violence strategies index: development and application. Violence Against Women. 2003;9:163–86.
Flicker SM, Cerulli C, Zhao X, Tang W, Watts A, Xia Y, Talbot NL. Concomitant forms of abuse and help-seeking behavior among White, African American, and Latina women who experience intimate partner violence. Violence Against Women. 2011;17(8):1067–85.
Gondolf EW, Fisher E, McFerron J. Racial differences among shelter residents: a comparison of Anglo, Black, and Hispanic battered. J Fam Violence. 1988;3(1):39–51.
Grossman SF, Lundy M. Use of domestic violence services across race and ethnicity by women aged 55 and older. Violence Against Women. 2003;9(12):1442–52.
Hamberger L. Racial differences in battered women’s experiences and preferences for treatment from physicians. J Fam Violence. 2007;22(5):259–65.
Straus M. Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence: the conflict tactics (CT) scales. J Marriage Fam. 1979;41(1):75–88.
Hamberger LK, Ambuel B, Marbella A, Donze J. Physician interaction with battered women: the women’s perspective. Arch Fam Med. 1998;7:575–82.
Henning KR, Klesges LM. Utilization of counseling and supportive services by female victims of domestic abuse. Violence Vict. 2002;17(5):623–36.
Lipsky S, Caetano R, Field CA, Larkin GL. The role of intimate partner violence, race, and ethnicity in help-seeking behaviors. Ethn Health. 2006;11(1):81–100.
Lipsky S, Caetano P. The role of race/ethnicity in the relationship between emergency department use and intimate partner violence: findings from the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(12):2246–52.
Lipsky S, Caetano R, Roy-Byrne P. Racial and ethnic disparities in police-reported intimate partner violence and risk of hospitalization among women. Women’s Health Issues. 2009;19(2):109–18.
Macy RJ, Nurius PS, Kernic MA, Holt VL. Battered women’s profiles associated with service help-seeking efforts: Illuminating opportunities for intervention. Soc Work Res. 2005;29(3):137–50.
Sabri BB, Bolyard RR, McFadgion AL, Stockman JK, Lucea MB, Callwood GB, Coverston CR, Campbell JC. Intimate partner violence, depression, PTSD, and use of mental health resources among ethnically diverse Black women. Soc Work Health Care. 2013;52(4):351–69.
West CM, Kantor GK, Jasinski JL. Sociodemographic predictors and cultural barriers to help-seeking behavior by Latina and Anglo American battered women. Violence Vict. 1998;13(4):361–75.
Yoshioka MR, Gilbert L, El-Bassel N, Baig-Amin M. Social support and disclosure of abuse: comparing South Asian, African American, and Hispanic battered women. J Fam Violence. 2003;18(3):171–80.
Soeken K, Parker B, McFarlane J, Lominack MC. The abuse assessment screen: a clinical instrument to measure frequency, severity, and perpetrator of abuse against women. In: Campbell JC, editor. Empowering survivors of abuse: health care for battered women and their children. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications; 1998.
Rao VN, Rao VVP, Fernandez M. An exploratory study of social support among Asian Indians in the U.S.A. Int J Contemp Soc. 1990;27(3/4):229–45.
Das AK, Kemp SF. Between two worlds: counseling South Asian Americans. J Multicult Couns Dev. 1997;25(1):23–33.
Kolenda P. Sibling relations and marriage practices: a comparison of north, central, and south India. In: Nuckolls CW, editor. Siblings in South Asia: brothers and sisters in cultural context. New York: Guilford Press; 1993.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical Approval
Ethics approval to conduct the study was provided by the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee.
Informed Consent
For this type of study, formal consent is not required.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Satyen, L., Rogic, A.C. & Supol, M. Intimate Partner Violence and Help-Seeking Behaviour: A Systematic Review of Cross-Cultural Differences. J Immigrant Minority Health 21, 879–892 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0803-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0803-9