Reviews the research literature on the identification and treatment of child sexual abuse in Asian American families, including individuals of Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Mien, and Vietnamese descent, whether immigrants or born in the United States. Overall empirical findings regarding child sexual abuse within Asian American communities support the possibility that abuse is hidden or underreported, in part because primary caretakers do not believe victims’ accusations. In addition, cultural dynamics may discourage Asian Americans from disclosing what is perceived as shameful information about their families, and traditional values may inhibit Asian American families from seeking professional or psychological help. In times of need Asian Americans often turn to herbalists, community elders and leaders, and priests. These same community members could be enlisted to support education and discussion groups on child sexual abuse. In addition, these resources within the Asian American community could be useful to mental health practitioners seeking to assess family situations and recommend particular interventions. The Asian American respect for authority also means traditional families seldom challenge interventions of child abuse mandated by authority figures.
