FILIPINA‐AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGES: FURTHER PERSPECTIVES ON SPOUSAL VIOLENCE

Abstract

In this study 61 Filipinos drawn from rural and regional towns reported that they were generally happily married and were subjected infrequently to physical violence in their marriages, although there was evidence of higher levels of abuse in the form of constraints on personal freedom, access to money and verbal criticism. The Filipino cultural value of amor propio (sense of honour or personal dignity) and Filipinas' experience of spousal abuse in their family of origin best predicted their anticipation of reporting spousal abuse and separating from or retaliating against an abusive partner. This provides some support for cultural value and inter generational transfer explanations of response to spousal abuse.