Understanding Discrepancies: Practitioner Perspectives on the Underrepresentation of Asian American and Pacific Islander Intimate Partner Violence Survivors in National Data

Background/Purpose

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) remain understudied and underrepresented in national data. Existing research highlights inconsistencies in how IPV among AAPI women is reported, with national surveys often failing to collect data that is inclusive, consistent, or reflective of community realities. This study, part of a larger project on IPV in AAPI communities, builds on prior findings that revealed discrepancies between national survey data and frontline practitioners’ observations. For instance, the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) reports higher education and income levels among AAPI IPV survivors compared to other groups, yet practitioners challenged this, highlighting that many survivors experience significant financial hardship, and that access to resources often depends on factors like English proficiency, educational background, and financial autonomy—elements not fully captured in national datasets. This study focuses on the contributing factors and practitioner recommendations for addressing the discrepancies between national data and survivors’ experiences.

Methods

This study draws on qualitative data collected through focus groups and individual semi-structured interviews with 24 IPV service providers working with AAPI communities across two agencies (18 from one agency and 6 from the other). Data were collected between June and August 2024. Two key questions of interest included what may have contributed to the discrepancies, and what are practitioners’ recommendations for future surveys. The interviews, ranging from 48 to 114 minutes, were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis with Dedoose.

Results

Key themes explaining discrepancies between national IPV statistics and practitioners’ observations included language barriers, immigration status, cultural norms, and the heterogeneity of AAPI communities/ Participants highlighted several contributing factors to this gap: (1) Surveys limited to English and Spanish exclude non-English-speaking AAPI survivors, potentially skewing results toward higher socioeconomic groups; (2) Undocumented survivors or those with non-immigrant visas may be reluctant to respond to surveys conducted by the U.S. government, regardless of whether their immigration status is explicitly asked; (3) Stigma and language barrier may discourage disclosure of IPV, particularly among survivors served by participating practitioners; (4) The broad label AAPI conceals internal diversity—socioeconomic/cultural differences among East, Central, and Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander groups—allowing more dominant subgroups to overshadow others, skewing the data. To address these discrepancies, practitioners recommend expanding language access, improving sampling methods to include underrepresented populations, disaggregating AAPI data, collaborating with community-based organizations, and refining survey instruments to capture lived experiences with culturally nuanced indicators better.

Conclusions/Implications

This study explored the structural barriers that prevent AAPI IPV survivors from being included in national surveys. This study urges a community-informed and equity-driven data gathering process to reflect the reality among AAPI IPV survivors and promote efforts to serve them better. Survey instruments must be developed with cultural context in mind. This includes using language that resonates with specific AAPI communities and ensuring translations are not only linguistically accurate but also culturally meaningful. Outreach efforts must proactively engage hard-to-reach AAPI populations, including undocumented immigrants, limited English speakers, and recent arrivals, through trusted community organizations.