Contextual and cultural factors affecting network members’ responses to Filipino survivors of partner abuse.

Abstract

Partner abuse (PA) continues to be one of the most critical human rights and public health issues of our time (UNICEF, Facts and figures: Ending violence against women, 2014). Communities that experience oppression are most at-risk. Social networks, however, are a key target for PA prevention and intervention. One of the most important sources of support for individuals experiencing PA is family and friends (Coker et al., 2003). The vast majority of PA victims, for example, disclose first to family and friends and turn to them most for informal support (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). Scholars have conducted few studies with family and friends directly to understand what factors influence how they respond to PA. Our study purpose was to expand on Chronister et al.'s (2020) findings by identifying what contextual and cultural factors affected, how family members and friends responded to their Filipino loved ones involved in PA relationships. We used a constructivist-interpretivist research paradigm and phenomenological methods to conduct 29 in-depth interviews with family members and friends. The factors that influenced how participants responded included their understanding of PA and its mental health impact; their emotional and physical safety and the safety of their loved ones; cultural scripts; the availability of culturally appropriate responses and services; and interpersonal relationship contexts. Identification of these factors brought to light prominent Filipino values and psychological concepts; the challenges that intersections among cultural values as well as age, generation status, and acculturation posed for participants; and the desperate need for health care and social service systems that work for Filipinos.

An interdisciplinary critical lens on the herstorical contributions and health outcomes among Filipinx American women.

“…It is vital to engage different members of the FilAm community by age, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status/nativity, community members, and professionals (e.g., in education, medicine, mental health, government, religion). For instance, Chronister et al (2022) added a cultural lens by discussing self-care as collective care to increase help-seeking for IPV. Traditionally, FilAm women are the center of planning and carrying for the family; they often carry the stories that bring family together, especially during times of grief.…”

S.I.G.E.!: Celebrating Filipina/x/o American psychology and some guiding principles as we “go ahead”.

“…Some researchers attempted to better understand one of the more consistent findings in Asian American psychology—that as low as the mental health help-seeking rate is for Asian Americans, FAs seek professional psychological help at an even lower rate (Gong et al, 2003; Tanaka-Konayagi, 2001; Ying & Hu, 1994)—by investigating other factors that might influence FA mental health help-seeking (Alviar & del Prado, 2021; Tuazon & Clemente, 2021). There are also articles that explore stigmatized issues within the community, such as intimate partner violence (Chronister et al, 2021) and suicide (Arañez-Litam et al, 2021). Some FA psychologists also developed a framework for going beyond academia and clinical work to advocating for societal change (Tolentino et al, 2021).…”

“…One example of this is Chronister et al (2021) piece in this special issue, which uses a constructivist–interpretavist research paradigm and phenomenological methods in studying partner abuse and its mental health implications among FAs. Alviar and del Prado (2021) use of grounded theory to develop a multilayered and more nuanced understanding of how Catholicism impacts the mental health and help-seeking of FA Catholics, as well as Coffee et al (2021) use of grounded theory to develop a shared definition of FA adolescent mental health, are examples of this also.…”