Latin American, Asian, and American cultural differences in perceptions of spousal abuse.

College students (20 Latin American exchange students, 18 Asian exchange students, and 20 students born in the United States) participated in a study of the effects of culture on attitudes and perceptions of spousal abuse. Subjects completed a 23-item questionnaire developed to ascertain subjects' attitudes about spousal abuse, retaliatory behaviors, and the legal implications of those behaviors. Analyses showed many significant differences in attitudes towards and perceptions of spousal abuse. This suggests that attitudes and perceptions of spousal abuse are culturally related.