The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a purpose-built intervention in improving the mental health of abused Mainland Chinese immigrant women in a community in Hong Kong.

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.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Mainland Chinese immigrant women,
• 18 years of age or older,
• holding a one-way or two-way permit,
• have settled in Hong Kong with their intimate partners for less than seven years,
• have at least one child under 18 years of age,
• residing in the Kwai Chung, Tsuen Wan or Tsing Yi districts, and
• assessed to be abused by an intimate partner, based on the Abuse Assessment Screen.

Exclusion Criteria:

• participated in our positive parenting program or advocacy intervention previously, or
• will not be in Hong Kong during the intervention/standard health education program or the follow-up telephone interview, or
• is abused by someone who is not her intimate partner, or
• is unable to communicate in Cantonese or Putonghua.