DOI: 10.3886/icpsr35247.v1
title: A Study of Wife Abuse Among Vietnamese Immigrants to the US, 2000-2001
title: Version 1

description: This study involved a purposive sample of 129 Vietnamese immigrant women to the United States, 57 of whom experienced domestic violence. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected on abuse, efforts to stop the abuse, immigration experiences, current and prior relationship with partners, and many facets of life. One year after the first interview, the women who had experienced abuse were re-interviewed to determine whether their circumstances had changed and why they had or had not changed. For both interviews, data were collected on contacts with the justice system and satisfaction with those contacts. To measure abuse and one-year outcomes, variables included: values/norms promoting husband's domination, conflict over expectations about gender roles and other aspects of family life, immigration (reasons for immigration, sequencing of husband's and wife's move, each person's legal status), and circumstances related to immigration (discrimination, employment and occupational status, proximity of extended family, wife's support network). Qualitative data on the pattern, nature, and context of the abuse was collected to provide description of why the abuse occurred, and to support findings from the quantitative analysis and/or better specify the causative model. Additional variables included wife's perceptions of immigration law and the outcome of criminal justice involvement; wife's perception of the consequences of divorce (financial, legal realities and cultural norms regarding child custody, effect of marital status on woman's social status and quality of life); need for and effects of wife moving from the ethnic community to the mainstream to escape abuse (need of identification with the ethnic group, support network of relatives and friends, social reactions to abuse); wife's economic power (ability to speak English, earn a living); wife's experience in seeking help (knowledge of United States legal system, availability of legal and victim assistance for abused women, experience with the justice system and victim assistance programs). Demographic variables included age, race, citizenship status, religion, education, and number of children.
description: The purpose of the study is to: Provide a detailed understanding of the different patterns of abuse and the factors contributing to wife abuse, so that the problem can be recognized, and effective prevention can be designed. Document the consequences of abuse to provide evidence of the importance of the problem. Understand women's decisions to seek and use different types of help so that the availability of assistance can be increased. Examine the aftermath of abuse, including experience with service providers, and the pathways to positive outcomes for women and their families, so that effective interventions can be designed.
description: The research involved a purposive sample of 129 Vietnamese immigrant women to the United States, 57 of whom experienced domestic violence. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected on abuse, efforts to stop the abuse, immigration experiences, current and prior relationship with partners, and many facets of life. One year after the first interview, the women who had experienced abuse were re-interviewed to determine whether their circumstances had changed and why they had or had not changed.
description: Variables include demographic (age, race, birthplace, years of education, religion), occupation, children, financial support, types and degrees of physical/mental harm, divorce or separation, whether protection orders were obtained, whether police were involved, whether the legal system was involved, whether other counseling/assistance was involved, why different types of interventions were sought or not, why fighting/violence occurred, and how helpful different interventions were.
description: none
description: Response Rates: Of the 129 women, 72 reported abuse in the year prior to the initial interview. 57 (79 percent) could be reached for a second interview. None declined, but the remainder could not be located, usually because they had moved from the area.
description: Presence of Common Scales: Modified version of the conflict tactics scale. Women's Experience with Battering Scale Depression measured with an adaptation of a scale adapted from the Center of Epidemiological Studies Scale.
description: Purposive supplemented by snowball. Women recruited from one metropolitan area in northeastern United States, known to be in abusive relationships from involvement in advocacy programs or shelters designed to help abused women.
description: Datasets: DS0: Study-Level Files DS1: First Interview - Public Use Data DS2: Second Interview - Public Use Data DS3: First Interview - Restricted Use Data DS4: Second Interview - Restricted Use Data
description: In one metropolitan area in northeastern United States, women were recruited from a domestic violence advocacy agency, the health center that serviced the population, a relevant civic association and cultural clubs, and snowball sampling in the community. 129 women were recruited for the first interview. The 57 women who reported abuse were interviewed one year later. Smallest Geographic Unit: part of a metropolitan area
description: face-to-face interviewA one-year follow-up was conducted.