Effects of Family Violence and Social Support on Behavior Problems among Asian and Asian American Students

• In Event: 115 - Section on Asia and Asian America Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 07. Research on Family and Deviance

Abstract

This paper examines the role of social support on behavior problems of Asian and Asian American college students exposed to family violence. Intimate partner violence is a world-wide social issue, and it can be termed interparental violence when it occurs among couples with children. Likewise, child abuse knows no boundaries. However, Asian households appear to have unique patterns with these phenomena when compared with other groups. The present study used a survey questionnaire to (1) understand the effects of family violence on Asian and Asian American college students’ internalizing (e.g., anxiety, depression, etc.), externalizing (e.g., aggression, antisocial behaviors, etc.), and drinking problems, and (2) examine the role social support plays in mitigating these behavior problems. Data were collected from 549 college students. Of those, 155 students were at a university in Hong Kong (one university), 96 students in South Korea (three universities), 178 students in Japan (three universities), and 120 students at a metropolitan university in the United States. Hierarchical regression models show differences in behaviors by country and family violence. Social support plays a role in mitigating internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Social support from friends increase drinking behaviors. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Authors

• Yoko Baba, San Jose State University

• James Daniel Lee, San Jose State University

• Michael Vallerga, San José State University