Sexual Violence Survivors in the Indian Diaspora: The Impact of Acculturation on Support-Seeking Behavior

Abstract

Survivors of sexual violence in the United States are provided many more resources than those in Asia. For survivors in the Indian diaspora, this provides a unique perspective when understanding their experience and seeking support. This mixed methods study was an effort to understand the relationship between acculturation and support seeking for these survivors, both from informal and formal supports. This survey research recruited 77 survivors of sexual violence who self-identified as women and within the Indian diaspora in the United States. The participants ranged from 18 to 43 years in age. The Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale, support seeking checklist, and open-ended questions were used to understand the relationship between the variables of acculturation and support seeking within this population of survivors. Analysis showed that differences in support seeking were impacted by immersion in either dominant or ethnic societies, and that more attention might be paid to those with marginalized acculturation identities. Results of hypothesis testing and descriptive statistics are delivered. Implications include particular concern for populations marginalized by their ethnic and dominant societies. Further discussion focuses on understanding cultural norms as opposed to acculturation and integrating informal supports in treatment for survivors.