Exploring Perceptions of Child Sexual Abuse and Attitudes Towards Help-Seeking among South Asian College Students.

Abstract

In this dissertation study, I examined perceptions of child sexual abuse (CSA) and attitudes towards psychological help-seeking held by South Asian college students living in the U.S. I conducted an online community survey (N = 349) among South Asian college-aged students (age18-25) who self-identified as South Asian, South Asian-American or with any subethnic group falling under the South Asian category More specifically, I examined the effects of Asian American Model Minority endorsement, idealized gender ideology, and acculturation on perceptions of CSA and attitudes towards help-seeking in a sample of South Asian college students across the United States. I found that MM Ideology was a significant predictor of certain types of CSA myths. Higher endorsement of MM Ideology predicted less Blame Diffusion, greater belief in Culture as Protective Factor (for CSA), and greater belief in Lay Theories of Coping. Asian Male Ideal (AMI) predicted all factors related to perceptions of CSA except for Restrictive Abuse Stereotypes. That is, AMI predicted greater endorsement of Blame Diffusion, greater Denial of Abusiveness, greater belief in Family and Community Awareness/Response, greater belief in Culture as Protective Factor, and less knowledge of Lay Theories of Coping. AMI predicted less positive Attitudes Towards Help-Seeking, as well. Asian Female Ideal (AFI) predicted greater Denial of Abusiveness, greater Restrictive Abuse Stereotypes, and greater belief in Culture as Protective Factor. AFI also predicted less positive help-seeking attitudes. Lastly, I found that acculturation predicted less Blame Diffusion, less Denial of Abusiveness, and less belief in Culture as Protective Factor. Idealized gender ideology (AMI & AFI) alone was a significant predictor of attitudes towards help-seeking. Thus, a majority of my hypotheses were supported. Overall, the present research findings point towards the importance of cultural context when conceptualizing CSA amongst immigrants in the U.S. The results of this study have important implications for clinicians working with South Asian CSA survivors and their families, community members and organizations addressing issues related to gender violence, colleges interested in developing culturally competent services, and researchers in the areas of clinical and gender psychology.