Intimate Partner Violence and South Asian Families in the United States: Towards Bringing Visibility to an Unrecognized Population

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health problem impacting individual, families, and communities. Because IPV occurs in a broader environment within which these families are nested, preluding to their communities and neighborhoods, research must examine the individual and societal level factors critical to bringing behavior change. Stemming from a lack of theoretical underpinnings, predictors in relation to South Asian immigrant women, living in neighborhoods, IPV as a problem is under-reported and stigmatized. A dearth of a better understanding exits that could inductively and deductively build the theoretical frame of reference to examine and assess for intimate partner violence within immigrant communities. This paper uncovers the theoretical underpinnings to comprehend considering the immigration status, neighborhood, and communities, economic statues, and theories to assess social work implications of IPV. To conclude, the paper discusses existing policies, prevention strategies, and interventions are discussed.