Asian-Americans Least Likely to Report Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a serious issue, but it is one that many individuals are reluctant to talk about. Those who are abused often feel shame and embarrassment at their state, and want to keep the issues hidden from view. A new study at PsychCentral recently discovered that among all ethnicities, Asian-Americans are the least-likely to admit when they are being abused in a domestic situation.

They rarely seek help from abusive situations by searching out health care providers or reporting their encounters to the law enforcement. Not only are Asian-Americans the fastest growing racial group in the United States, but they are also coming to be the most secretive. Asian-Americans have learned in their cultural background that they should avoid seeking help. There is also a lack of culturally sensitive services for people of this ethnicity.

Some researchers believe that the nation should establish hotlines for people who speak Korean, Chinese, or Japanese so that they can effectively report instances that they may not be able to describe in English. Asian-Americans are four times less likely to use a mental health service when being abused than Latinos, African-Americans, and Caucasians are. The refusal to admit their pain may be in part because of family honor. In Asian cultures, the parents put extreme emphasis on honoring the generations. To admit abuse would not only shame the parents, but the entire legacy. Also, in many Asian cultures woman are not as valued. This makes them more likely to accept their abuse as a natural part of life.

If you are a victim of abuse, don’t hesitate to report your case to the authorities. If your children are being abused by a parent, then you may want to contact a family lawyer and possibly get a social worker involved. You also may want to consider breaking free of your abusive situation through a divorce. If you can prove that the other parent was characteristically abusive, there is a high possibility that you will be able to obtain full custody of your children and start a new life free of domestic violence.