Intervention for Abused Chinese Immigrant Women

Primary Outcome Measures:

• Change from baseline in depressive symptoms at 6-month post-intervention [ Time Frame: Baseline and 6-month post-intervention ]
  The Beck Depression Inventory version II is used to assess depressive symptoms at baseline and also at 6-month post-intervention
  
  

Secondary Outcome Measures:

• Change from baseline in parenting stress at 6-month post-intervention [ Time Frame: Baseline and 6-month post-intervention ]
  The Parenting Stress Index is used to measure paretning stress at baseline and also at 6-month post-intervention
  
  
• Change from baseline in perceptions of social support at 6-month post-intervention [ Time Frame: Baseline and 6-month post-intervention ]
  The 12-item Interpersonal Support Evaluation List is used to assess perceptions of social supportat baseline and also at 6-month post-intervention
  
  
• Change from baseline in health-related quality of life at 6-month post-intervention [ Time Frame: Baseline and 6-month post-intervention ]
  The SF-12 Health Survey is used to assess health-related quality of life at baseline and also at 6-month post-intervention
  
  
• Change from baseline in intimate partner violence at 6-month post-intervention [ Time Frame: Baseline and 6-month post-intervention ]
  The Revised Conflict Tactics Scales is used to measure the type and frequency of behaviors used by the perpetrator during partner conflict at baseline and also at 6-month post-intervention.
  
  
• Change from baseline in safety behaviors at 6-month post-intervention [ Time Frame: Baseline and 6-month post-intervention. ]
  The Safety Assessment Checklist is used to to measure the safety behaviours used by abused women to avert intimate partner violence at baseline and also at 6-month post-intervention.
  
  

Depression is one of the most common mental health sequelae of Intimate partner violence. Not only does depression have an adverse effect on abused women's health and well-being, it also reduces their capacity to cope with the abuse by limiting their ability to perform self-care, meet work requirement, maintain independence, establish relationships, and access social support. Previously, the ability of abused women to take care of themselves was found to be a protective factor for depression. In order to enhance abused women's self-care, advocacy interventions have been developed to help them make sense of the abusive situation, identify potential solutions, and achieve their goals. Also, immigration status was shown to be significantly associated with a higher level of depressive symptoms among the abused women. The findings are important as they point to the need for further research to develop and evaluate culturally congruent interventions to meet the needs of abused Mainland Chinese immigrant women in Hong Kong. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a purpose-built intervention to address the unmet needs of Mainland Chinese immigrant women survivors of Intimate partner violence and to assess its effect on the mental health of the women.