Social isolation, acculturative stress and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization among Korean immigrant women

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious health and social problem among Korean immigrant population. To identify risk factors that might be related to their initial IPV victimization as well as their continuous victimization by their partners, this study examined the relationship between social isolation, acculturative stress and IPV victimization among Korean immigrant women. Using the case-control design, 127 participants (64 IPV victims and 63 non-victims) were recruited for this study. The findings of this study revealed that acculturative stress and a lack of social support (i.e., social isolation) among Korean immigrant women are independently associated with IPV victimization. However, social support did not have a stress-buffering role for IPV. Also, acculturative stress partially mediates the effect of social isolation (lack of social support) on IPV. Based on this study’s findings, we then discuss policy implications to prevent further victimization focusing on social network and acculturative stress.