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Intimate Partner Violence Against Women Among North Korean Refugees: A Comparison With South Koreans

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Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Authors:
Boyoung Nam at Yonsei University
Boyoung Nam
Jae Yop Kim at Yonsei University
Jae Yop Kim
Wonjung Ryu
Wonjung Ryu
Wonjung Ryu
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North Korean refugees in South Korea have been reported as at higher risk of intimate partner violence (IPV). However, few studies have examined risk factors of IPV among North Korean refugees. This study aimed to report the prevalence of IPV against women among North Korean refugees, and compared the risk factors of IPV against women between South Koreans and North Korean refugees in South Korea. Data from a nationwide survey about domestic violence in South Korea were used. The rate of IPV against women by North Korean refugees was 57.1%, which is considerably higher than that of South Koreans (9.9%). The regression analysis indicated that North Korean refugees perpetrated partner violence against women more frequently than South Koreans, even after controlling for socioeconomic factors. Child abuse victimization and witnessing IPV between parents were the main factors of IPV against women among South Koreans. On the other hand, stress and a tolerant attitude toward using violence were significantly associated with IPV against women among North Korean refugees. The findings suggested that stress management and education on reducing tolerance to violence should be provided to prevent IPV against women among North Korean refugees.
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https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260517699949
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
2020, Vol. 35(15-16) 2947 –2970
© The Author(s) 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/0886260517699949
journals.sagepub.com/home/jiv
Article
Intimate Partner
Violence Against Women
Among North Korean
Refugees: A Comparison
With South Koreans
Boyoung Nam, MSW,1 Jae Yop Kim, PhD,2
and Wonjung Ryu, BA2
Abstract
North Korean refugees in South Korea have been reported as at higher risk
of intimate partner violence (IPV). However, few studies have examined risk
factors of IPV among North Korean refugees. This study aimed to report
the prevalence of IPV against women among North Korean refugees, and
compared the risk factors of IPV against women between South Koreans
and North Korean refugees in South Korea. Data from a nationwide survey
about domestic violence in South Korea were used. The rate of IPV against
women by North Korean refugees was 57.1%, which is considerably higher
than that of South Koreans (9.9%). The regression analysis indicated that
North Korean refugees perpetrated partner violence against women more
frequently than South Koreans, even after controlling for socioeconomic
factors. Child abuse victimization and witnessing IPV between parents were
the main factors of IPV against women among South Koreans. On the other
hand, stress and a tolerant attitude toward using violence were significantly
associated with IPV against women among North Korean refugees. The
findings suggested that stress management and education on reducing
1University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA
2Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Corresponding Author:
Jae Yop Kim, School of Social Welfare, Yonsei University, Yonsei Univ. Shinchion,
Sudaemoon, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea.
Email: jaeyop@yonsei.ac.kr
699949JIVXXX10.1177/0886260517699949Journal of Interpersonal ViolenceNam et al.
research-article2017
... Immigrant and refugee women are particularly vulnerable to IPV victimization (Um et al., 2018). Although there is limited research on the prevalence of IPV among North Korean (NK) refugee women, IPV victimization following settling down in South Korea is known to be much greater than that in the general South Korean population (Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, 2010;Nam et al., 2020). More specifically, a study reported that approximately 82.0% of NK refugee women in South Korea had experienced IPV in the past year (Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, 2010). ...
... NK refugee women living in South Korea are vulnerable to IPV (Um et al., 2018) and have higher rates of IPV than the general South Korean population (Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, 2010;Nam et al., 2020). Low socioeconomic status, a lack of social networks, and adaptation challenges are risk factors for IPV victimization among immigrant women, including NK refugee women (Nam et al., 2020;Njie-Carr et al., 2021;Um et al., 2018). ...
... NK refugee women living in South Korea are vulnerable to IPV (Um et al., 2018) and have higher rates of IPV than the general South Korean population (Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, 2010;Nam et al., 2020). Low socioeconomic status, a lack of social networks, and adaptation challenges are risk factors for IPV victimization among immigrant women, including NK refugee women (Nam et al., 2020;Njie-Carr et al., 2021;Um et al., 2018). In particular, GBV experiences before and during migration are associated with an elevated risk of IPV among NK refugee women . ...
Moderating Effects of Social Networks on Gender-Based Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Among North Korean Refugee Women
Article
Full-text available
  • Jul 2023
Objective: This study investigated the relationship between gender-based violence (GBV) experienced before and during migration and increased risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) among North Korean (NK) refugee women after resettlement in South Korea. We also assessed the mitigating role of two types of social networks (i.e., bonding and bridging) in the relationship between GBV and IPV. Bonding networks (i.e., relationships with people sharing similar backgrounds and experiences) have been found to protect IPV victims by providing them with emotional support, and bridging networks (i.e., extended connections with people from different backgrounds) to help victims with their response strategies to IPV. Method: A cross-sectional survey was administered to NK refugee women living in South Korea (N = 212). Results: Multivariate analyses revealed that past GBV exposure was significantly associated with current IPV exposure. Both types of social networks significantly attenuated the relationship between GBV and IPV. Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that a history of GBV victimization could increase risk of IPV from current partners, as male partners of NK refugee women with experiences of GBV might perceive past sexual victimization as a disgrace and perpetrate violence during conflicts. However, IPV victimization might be prevented by enhancing social networks. Bonding networks might provide emotional support for NK refugee women, and bridging networks might help them find necessary resources and information to respond to the violence. Thus, violence prevention and intervention approaches should consider the extent to which bonding and bridging social networks affect IPV victims and revictimization.
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... The IPV has been identified among refugee women globally and Syrian refugee women is no exception. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Several social and economic factors have been attributed to IPV including age, education, 19-21 income/economic status, financial stress, 11,14,18,22-24 patriarchal norms, and exposure to violence. 11, 15,17,22,[25][26][27] Studies in general have shown that economic dependence of a woman on husband lead to IPV. 20,28-31 However, literature also suggests women's economic independence is associated with higher IPV. ...
... [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Several social and economic factors have been attributed to IPV including age, education, 19-21 income/economic status, financial stress, 11,14,18,22-24 patriarchal norms, and exposure to violence. 11, 15,17,22,[25][26][27] Studies in general have shown that economic dependence of a woman on husband lead to IPV. 20,28-31 However, literature also suggests women's economic independence is associated with higher IPV. 22,[32][33][34][35][36][37] Globally there are mixed results whether financial dependence and economic empowerment increases IPV risks depending on the social and economic contexts. ...
... The final model for this analysis was based on identification of existing factors in the literature and stepwise elimination. 15,[17][18][19][20][21]23,33,[47][48][49] The "IPV ever" variable was excluded from the model due to a concern for multicollinearity. All analyses were conducted using STATA version 16.0. ...
Financial dependence and intimate partner violence (IPV) among married Syrian refugee women living in non-camp settings in Jordan
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2022
# Background Globally, several studies show that the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with the financial dependence of women on their husbands. Limited research exists on the relationship between IPV and male partner financial dependence among refugees, especially Syrian refuge women in host countries. This paper is designed to examine the relationship between financial dependence of Syrian refugee women on their husbands in the host country and IPV perpetrated by husbands. We hypothesize that women whose financial dependence on their husbands increased in the host country Jordan as a result of displacement caused the Syrian Civil War are more likely to report experiences of IPV within the past 12 months as compared to women whose financial dependence on their husbands did not increase or change. # Methods We recruited 507 Syrian refugee women for the project Advancing Solutions in Policy, Implementation, Research and Engagement for Refugees (ASPIRE) study using time and venue-based random sampling from health clinics in Jordan in 2018. Eligibility criteria included: being a female Syrian refugee, living in non-camp settings, and being at least 18 years of age. Women participated in face to face interviews on gendered health and mental health concerns, physical and sexual IPV in the past year, and financial dependence on their husbands. In this paper we focused on women who were married prior to the Syrian civil war (N=313). We asked if the war in Syrian increased, decreased, or did not change the financial dependence on the husband. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association between financial dependence and IPV, adjusting for covariates of age, education, family decision-maker in the household, marital status, number of children in the household, and Syrian governorate prior to leaving Syria. # Results On average, women were 35.7 (standard deviation, SD=9.05) years. Nearly half (41.2%) reported a decrease in financial dependence on their husbands after the Syrian civil war. A little over one-fifth (20.5%) of the women reported an increase in financial dependence on their husbands after the Syrian civil war. More than one-third (38.3%) of Syrian refugee women in the study reported that their financial dependence on their husbands did not change. Nearly two-fifths of women (38.7%) reported experiencing IPV in the past 12 months. Participants who experienced a decrease in financial dependence had 1.99 higher odds (adjusted odds ratio, aOR=1.99, 95% CI, confidence interval=1.11-3.58) of experiencing IPV in the past 12 months. Participants who experienced an increase in financial dependence also had 1.96 higher odds (aOR=1.96, 95% CI=1.00-3.81) of experiencing IPV in the past 12 months. Therefore, we found that women whose financial dependence on their husbands either increased or decreased were both more likely to report experiencing IPV perpetrated by husbands in the last 12 months, suggesting the possible implications of disrupted stability in a relationship in conflict situations, compared to women whose financial dependence on their husbands did not change after the Syrian civil war. # Conclusions IPV prevention efforts in changing household dynamics among Syrian refugee married couples should be considered while developing potential economic empowerment intervention programs. As women may be more likely disclose their financial dependence changes than IPV experiences, these lessons could benefit the health and humanitarian sector in identifying women’s health and protection needs.
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... Eighteen studies had a cross-sectional design (Clark & Haj-Yahia, 2011;Falb et al., 2013;Feseha et al., 2012;Haj Yahia & Clark, 2013;Hammoury et al., 2009;Hynes et al., 2004;Keygnaert et al., 2015;Khawaja & Hammoury, 2008a;Khawaja et al., 2008b;Nam et al, 2017;Napolitano et al., 2018;Oliveira et al., 2018;Pannetier et al., 2018;Parmar et al., 2012Parmar et al., , 2014Tappis et al., 2012;Um et al., 2018;Wako et al., 2015), three were prevalence studies (Al-Modallal et al., 2015;Hammoury & Khawaja, 2007;Kim et al., 2017), and two were cohort studies (Rees et al., 2018;Stewart et al., 2012). The length of follow-up in the cohort studies was 4 months and 15 months. ...
... Two reported on domestic violence (Hammoury et al., 2009;Tappis et al., 2012). Two reported on physical IPV only (Khawaja et al., 2008b;Nam et al, 2017). One reported on physical and sexual IPV only (Stewart et al., 2012). ...
... Two studies had other IPV outcomes (Hynes et al., 2004;Kim et al., 2017). According to GRADE criteria, the certainty of evidence was low in four studies and very low in 19 studies (Hammoury et al., 2009;Nam et al., 2017;Rees et al., 2018;Stewart et al., 2012). ...
Factors Associated With Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration and Victimization in Asylum Seeking and Refugee Populations: A Systematic Review
Article
  • Dec 2020
  • TRAUMA VIOLENCE ABUS
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a common and serious health and justice problem. Asylum seekers and refugees are generally vulnerable to violence and may be particularly vulnerable to IPV. The aim of this study is to identify factors associated with IPV perpetration and victimization in asylum seeking and refugee populations through a systematic review of the literature. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Global Health, PsycINFO, Westlaw, and Social Science Research Network databases were searched. Quantitative studies were included according to a population, exposure, outcome framework. Studies were critically appraised with the Joanna Briggs Institute’s System for the Unified Management, Assessment and Review of Information tool and quality assessed according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations approach. Meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity. A complex multitude of factors associated with IPV perpetration and victimization in asylum seeking and refugee populations was found. Narrative synthesis of 23 studies showed an inverse association between both perpetrator and victim education level and IPV. Relationship factors, legal status, and age were also important factors associated with IPV. The majority of studies had a cross-sectional design. Heterogeneity in definitions of IPV, sample, methods, statistical procedures, and outcomes was reported. Low education level is a consistent modifiable factor associated with IPV in asylum seeking and refugee populations. This work points to a testable intervention that stakeholders could trial to address the unjust and unhealthy problem of IPV. More and better quality research using standardized definitions, longitudinal design, and sensitive tools is needed in this area.
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... Eighteen studies had a cross-sectional design (Clark & Haj-Yahia, 2011;Falb et al., 2013;Feseha et al., 2012;Haj Yahia & Clark, 2013;Hammoury et al., 2009;Hynes et al., 2004;Keygnaert et al., 2015;Khawaja & Hammoury, 2008a;Khawaja et al., 2008b;Nam et al, 2017;Napolitano et al., 2018;Oliveira et al., 2018;Pannetier et al., 2018;Parmar et al., 2012Parmar et al., , 2014Tappis et al., 2012;Um et al., 2018;Wako et al., 2015), three were prevalence studies (Al-Modallal et al., 2015;Hammoury & Khawaja, 2007;Kim et al., 2017), and two were cohort studies (Rees et al., 2018;Stewart et al., 2012). The length of follow-up in the cohort studies was 4 months and 15 months. ...
... Two reported on domestic violence (Hammoury et al., 2009;Tappis et al., 2012). Two reported on physical IPV only (Khawaja et al., 2008b;Nam et al, 2017). One reported on physical and sexual IPV only (Stewart et al., 2012). ...
... Two studies had other IPV outcomes (Hynes et al., 2004;Kim et al., 2017). According to GRADE criteria, the certainty of evidence was low in four studies and very low in 19 studies (Hammoury et al., 2009;Nam et al., 2017;Rees et al., 2018;Stewart et al., 2012). ...
RF27 Risk factors for intimate partner violence in asylum seeking and refugee populations: a systematic review
Conference Paper
  • Sep 2019
Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pressing public health concern with well-documented evidence of adverse health consequences including mortality, physical, psychological and sexual harm. The specific experience of the asylum seeking and refugee populations includes exposure to pre-migration, migration and post-migration risk factors for adverse events. This migration history, along with factors such as differences in cultural values and norms may make these populations especially vulnerable to IPV. The aim and objective of this review was to identify risk factors for IPV in the asylum seeking and refugee populations by synthesising and critiquing the literature on this topic. Methods We identified 7,219 records by searching the PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Global Health, Embase, PsycINFO, Westlaw and SSRN electronic databases. We searched grey literature databases, agency websites and repositories. We critically appraised and extracted data using the JBI SUMARI tool. We ranked evidence quality using the GRADE approach. Meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity. We took a framework analysis approach to narrative synthesis i.e. familiarisation, identifying a thematic framework, indexing, charting, mapping and interpretation. We considered any risk factor as the exposure and IPV as the outcome. We separated asylum seekers and refugees for subgroup analysis. We registered the review with PROSPERO and adhered to the PRISMA reporting criteria. Results This review is ongoing. Searching resulted in 7,220 records. There were 4,693 records after we removed duplicates. We screened 4,693 titles and abstracts, selecting 52 studies for full-text assessment against explicit eligibility criteria. We excluded 28 studies with reasons for exclusion. We included 24 studies in the analysis. Twenty studies had a cross-sectional design, three were prevalence studies and one a cohort study. Political violence, conflict victimization, attitudes to IPV, previous experience of IPV and education emerged as categories of risk factors that may be associated with IPV. 96% of studies had a cross-sectional design, therefore temporality and direction of associations were difficult to determine. Discussion There is a large gap in research and policy-relevant evidence in this area. This review is important because it may be the first systematic review on this particular topic. The challenges for this study include inconsistent terminology, absent definitions, validity and reliability of measures of risk factors and IPV, self-report of IPV. This review may have implications for policy on safeguarding residents in reception centres and camps, screening for and reporting of IPV in clinical practice and future research.
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... NKDs in South Korea are reported to be at a higher risk (57.1%) of intimate partner violence (IPV) than SKNs (9.9%) [48]. A tolerant attitude and stress were significantly related to IPV against women in NKDs. ...
... To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. [20,22,37] • Repatriation experiences [38] • Long staying periods after entrance [21,22,44] • Perceived discrimination [10] • Low income [13,46,47] • Family relationships (family violence, family cohesion) [17,48,49] • Physical illnesses [19,51] • Alexithymia [31] • Emotion regulation strategy [40] • Thoughts of personal failure [41] • Resilience [42] Curr Behav Neurosci Rep Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved. ...
Trauma History and Mental Health of North Korean Defectors
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2020
Purpose of Review This study aimed to review the mental health status of North Korean defectors (NKDs) and related factors. Interventions to promote their mental health and issues to be dealt with are also reviewed. Recent Findings NKDs are often exposed to multiple severely traumatic events, both in North Korea and surrounding their defection. Furthermore, they face sociocultural barriers in adapting to a new society. Past exposure to traumatic events, longer defection periods, forced repatriation, psychological factors, and acculturative stress such as perceived discrimination, low income, family violence, and health complaints contribute to negative effects on mental health and obstruct their adaptation to life in the Republic of Korea. Summary It is necessary to develop evidence-based programs to promote NKDs’ mental health and help them to adapt to their new society. An NKD cohort study would be helpful to reveal their long-term mental health prognoses and interactions with pre- and post-migration factors.
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... However, the prevalence rates of violence against children in South Korea are serious concerns, including maltreatment (17.0% in 2016), exposure to domestic violence (9.9% to 34.4% between 2010 and 2016), verbal bullying (35.6%), ostracism (23.2%), and dating violence (from 16.2% in 2016 to 19.9% in 2017) (Han & Choi, 2021;Korean Women's Development Institute, 2013; Jeoung Min Lee and Shani Saxon have contributed equally and are co-third authors. Lee et al., 2021aLee et al., , 2021bMinistry of Education, 2019;Nam et al., 2020;Statistics Korea, 2018). Similar to adolescents in other countries, adolescents in South Korea are likely to experience more than one form of violent victimization in various settings, which is detrimental to their health and psychosocial well-being. ...
Pathways from Polyvictimization to Offline and Online Sexual Harassment Victimization Among South Korean Adolescents
Article
Full-text available
This study aimed to investigate the association between polyvictimization and offline and online sexual harassment and whether the association might be mediated by internalizing problems, low school satisfaction, and dropping out of school. The analytic sample was derived from the Children and Youth Rights Survey in South Korea. It consisted of 6,353 adolescents’ responses to the sexual harassment question and a set of other questions in the middle and high school questionnaires. The findings showed a direct association between polyvictimization and offline and online sexual harassment. Thus, adolescents who were polyvictimized were more likely to be victims of both forms of sexual harassment. Furthermore, polyvictimization was linked with dropping out of school, which was associated with offline sexual harassment. The findings from the study have significant implications for future research and practice.
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... Prior studies suggest a high prevalence of IPV among North Korean refugee women, regardless of the nationality of their current partner (e.g., South or North Korean, Chinese; Cho & Jeon, 2005;Um et al., 2018). When compared with South Korean women (Nam et al., 2020), North Korean refugee women reported 2.5 times the rate of physical violence, nearly twice the rate of emotional violence, almost three times the rate of sexual violence, and over four times the rate of economic control (Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, 2010). Um et al. (2018) found emotional violence (60.0%) to be the most prevalent form of IPV victimization, followed by physical violence (38.9%). ...
Polyvictimization and Psychological Outcomes Among North Korean Refugee Women
Article
Korean refugee women are at risk of multiple violent victimizations throughout the migration phases. However, migration's association with mental health outcomes has received little scholarly attention. This study examined North Korean refugee women's exposure to polyvictimization-exposure to both gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence (IPV)-and explored whether polyvictimization is associated with an increased risk of psychological symptoms. Data from a snowball sample of 212 North Korean refugee women were analyzed. Polyvictimization was operationalized as No victimization (0), Only GBV (1), Only IPV (2), and Both GBV and IPV (3). The associations between polyvictimization and depression, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and alcohol use disorder were analyzed with multivariate analyses. Results demonstrated that 46.2% experienced GBV in either North Korea or intermediary countries, and 30.9% were victims of IPV from their current intimate partner in South Korea. Approximately 25% were victims of both GBV and IPV. Multivariate analyses revealed that GBV was the most critical factor for mental health outcomes. North Korean refugee women with only GBV or GBV and IPV had significantly higher depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation severity than those without violence victimization. Risk of suicide attempt was also significantly higher among those with only GBV (OR = 16.52, p = .015) or both GBV and IPV (OR = 9.96, p = .048) than those without any violence victimization. Implications for future research and interventions among North Korean refugee women are also discussed.
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... These programs draw from a multitude of therapy models such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and expressive writing. Treatment modalities based on the CBT approach focuses on changing cognitive distortions in addressing the potential issues (Butler et al., 2006), motivational approaches focus on building intrinsic motivation to change behaviors (Rollnick and Miller, 1995), stress management approaches focus on improving coping skills to deal with stressors (Nam et al., 2020) and mindfulness-based approaches focus on improved awareness to reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms (Evans et al., 2008;Piet and Hougaard, 2011). ...
Treatments for Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Article
Full-text available
  • Feb 2022
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important problem that has significant detrimental effects on the wellbeing of female victims. The chronic physical and psychological effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) are complex, long-lasting, chronic, and require treatments focusing on improving mental health issues, safety, and support. Various psycho-social intervention programs are being implemented to improve survivor wellbeing. However, little is known about the effectiveness of different treatments on IPV survivors' wellbeing. For this purpose, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of interventions on improving outcomes that describe the wellbeing of adult female survivors of IPV. We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. We explored the effectiveness of available interventions on multiple outcomes that are critical for the wellbeing of adult female victims of IPV. To provide a broad and comprehensive view of survivors' wellbeing, we considered outcomes including mental health, physical health, diminishing further violence, social support, safety, self-efficacy, and quality of life. We reviewed 2,770 citations. Among these 25 randomized-controlled-study with a total of 4,683 participants met inclusion criteria. Findings of meta-analyses on interventions indicated promising results in improving anxiety [standardized mean difference (SMD) −7.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) −8.39 to −5.92], depression (SMD −0.26, CI −0.56 to −0.05), safety (SMD = 0.43, CI 0.4 to −0.83), violence prevention (SMD = −0.92, CI −1.66 to −0.17), health (SMD = 0.39, CI 0.12 to 0.66), self-esteem (SMD = 1.33, CI −0.73 to 3.39), social support (SMD =0.40, CI 0.20 to 0.61), and stress management (SMD = −8.94, CI −10.48 to −7.40) at the post-test. We found that empowerment plays a vital role, especially when treating depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which are difficult to improve across interventions. We found mixed findings on self-efficacy and quality of life. The effects of IPV are long-lasting and require treatments targeting co-morbid issues including improving safety and mental health issues.
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... The same authors also found evidence that exposure to violence in the origin countries increased the level of domestic violence. Nam et al. (2017) argue that the cultural background of North and South Koreans is very similar but that the political system, in which they grew up is very different. Therefore, North Korean refugee men in South Korea who were exposed to political violence tend to be more violent against their wives than South Korean men. ...
Divorce and Domestic Violence Among Syrian Refugees in Germany
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2021
In recent literature, there are no academic studies on divorce and domestic violence among Syrian refugees in Germany. To contribute to filling this gap, the current study addresses the question: What are the main causes of divorce and domestic violence among Syrian refugees in Germany, and how are these two phenomena interrelated? The present study is based on 14 qualitative interviews with divorced Syrian refugee men and women in Germany, all of them are Muslim with different economic backgrounds from urban and rural areas in Syria and got divorced shortly after their arrival to Germany. The data were analyzed and coded following Mayring’s guidelines for content analysis. The findings suggest that domestic violence results from conflicts of interest in marriage and divorce between Syrian refugee men and women. The present study uses the economic theory of marriage and divorce by Cary Becker to show how Syrian refugee women’s “gains” of divorce in Germany exceed the “gains” of remaining married and how that leads them to divorce their husbands. In contrast, divorce is a heavy loss for Syrian refugee men. In addition, it shows how this conflict of interest results in domestic violence, by which the men resist their wives’ eagerness to divorce and interpret the marital relationship according to Sharia law and Arabic traditions in order to keep their old patriarchal authority. However, this interpretation is inapplicable and criminalized by the German family legislation, and unwanted by their wives. The findings, through the example of Syrian refugees in Germany, imply that the causes of divorce and domestic violence among refugees in some regards are unique in comparison with natives and migrants. That means that we need more studies on this topic in different socio-cultural contexts.
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Factors Associated with Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Migrant Men: A Systematic Review
Article
  • Jun 2023
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most widespread form of violence against women and the most common perpetrators are male partners. Immigration can involve stressors and barriers that are linked to male IPV perpetration. The objective of this systematic review was to identify the factors associated with IPV perpetration among migrant men. Four electronic databases, MEDLINE Complete, Embase, PsycInfo, and SocINDEX with full text, were searched up to August 2021. Studies were selected that examined factors associated with IPV perpetration among first-generation migrants who identified as men/males and were aged 18 years or older. In all, 18 articles met the eligibility criteria for the review, representing a total of 12,321 male participants, including 4,389 migrant men. A wide range of factors associated with IPV perpetration were found at the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels. Unique risk factors for migrant men’s IPV perpetration were exposure to political violence, deportation experiences, and minimal legal sanctions for perpetration in some countries of origin. Societal factors explored among Latino immigrants were traditional gender roles such as machismo and norms of violence. All identified factors should be considered in the cultural contexts of the relevant samples and should not be generalized to all migrant men. The findings of modifiable and culture-specific factors have important implications for strategies aimed at reducing IPV perpetration. Future research should explore factors associated with IPV perpetration within specific cultures rather than across broad cultural groupings.
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Acculturative stress and personal adjustment among hispanic adolescent boys
Article
  • Jan 1994
  • J COMMUNITY PSYCHOL
This paper presents a comparative analysis of the effects of acculturation and acculturative stress on the self-esteem of Hispanic/Latino adolescents. The study is comparative in that it focuses on variations among both immigrant and native-born Hispanics. The data were derived from a longitudinal study of adolescents (n = 6,760) being conducted in Miami, Florida. The sample for this paper (n = 4,296) consisted of all the adolescents of Hispanic heritage. A complex patterning of acculturative strains was found for US.-and foreign-born adolescents. Acculturation strains and family pride have more powerful effects on self-esteem as acculturation increases among the foreign born, but the opposite is true for the U.S. born. The proportion of variance explained by the acculturation strains and family pride is greater for the U.S.-born adolescents (range = 21% to 29%) than for those who are foreign born (range = 15% to 19%). The findings indicate that much of the research on this subject has failed to reflect the differential processes of psychosocial adjustment faced by immigrant and nonimmigrant adolescents. There are differences in the types of strains reported, as well as in the effects of the strains on self-esteem. Low acculturation adolescents who are U.S. born have an especially problematic profile of strain, whereas bicultural adolescents born in the United States appear to have the best profile. The results suggest a need to advance from simple linear explanations to multifactorial stress models that will increase our understanding of the acculturative process.
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