Immigrant South Asian Women at Greater Risk for Injury From Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence and intimate partner violence–related homicide disproportionately affect immigrant women.1–6 South Asian women residing in the United States appear to be at particularly high risk for intimate partner violence, with 40% reporting intimate partner violence in their current relationship in a recent study.3 Other research indicates that immigration-related social isolation, often resulting from the absence of both family in the United States and community support for intimate partner violence victims, and lack of awareness of intimate partner violence services prevent battered South Asian women from seeking help.3,7–13 These findings suggest that factors related to immigration may place South Asian immigrant women at increased risk for intimate partner violence. The purpose of the current study was to assess the relations between immigration-related factors and intimate partner violence among a sample of South Asian women residing in the United States.