Exploring Child Abuse Among Vietnamese Refugees

Abstract

SUMMARY This exploratory pilot project sought to determine what one group of Southeast Asian refugees, the Vietnamese, perceived were areas of difficulty in their adjustment to the United States. Furthermore, based on factors correlated with the physical abuse of children, and on literature that states that child abuse is not culture-specific, this study sought to assess whether child abuse is prevalent among this population. Findings were inconsistent and suggested that common methods of identifying the occurrence of child abuse may not be valid in its assessment among populations that may fear the repercussions of admitting to the use of corporal punishment to discipline their children. Implications for research are discussed.