Intimate Partner Violence and Help-Seeking Behavior among Migrant Women in Australia

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an issue of global concern and there is a dearth of research into the culture-specific barriers that migrant women in Australia face. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which migrant women in Australia experience IPV, and to understand the factors that influence their help-seeking behavior. One hundred and thirty migrant women from the continents of Asia, Europe, South America, North America and Africa aged between 19 and 65 years (M = 38.15 years) reported their experiences of IPV and their preparedness to seek assistance through surveys. The results showed that over 50% of the participants experienced some form of IPV, with the most common type being verbal and emotional, followed by physical and psychological, and then financial. Most women indicated that they needed help, however, many refrained from seeking it; a range of barriers influenced their decision to not seek assistance. The findings have implications for future studies examining violence against culturally and linguistically diverse minority women, the barriers in them seeking assistance and their main sources of support.