Leveraging Technology to Engage Bystanders In South Asian Communities

Purpose: South Asians, particularly individuals from India, are among the fastest-growing immigrant groups in the United States, yet domestic violence remains under-addressed within this community. Cultural values such as collectivism and family honor often discourage help-seeking, while informal networks may further inhibit action. The taboo surrounding domestic violence limits open dialogue and research, especially on bystander engagement. Technology offers a critical pathway to overcome these barriers by providing accessible, anonymous, and culturally tailored support. Our intervention, B.R.A.K.E. The Cycle, leverages technology to equip South Asian bystanders with resources and skills to recognize, respond to, and help prevent domestic violence.

Methods: Informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior, which emphasizes reinforcement strategies and positive affirmations to support behavior change, we developed 10 interactive scenarios designed to actively engage South Asian bystanders. Participants were recruited across the United States using convenience and snowball sampling methods. A Qualtrics survey link, including the consent form and an embedded intervention website, was distributed to collect responses. The survey assessed user experiences with the intervention, including perceptions of the website, engagement with bystander scenarios, and self-reported willingness and preparedness to intervene, as well as suggestions for improvement. Preliminary analyses employed descriptive statistics to summarize quantitative findings, alongside analysis of qualitative participant feedback to provide contextual insights, with support from a closed AI tool to assist in the analysis.

Results: A total of 79 participants completed the survey. The sample was predominantly female (57%), Indian (62%), and heterosexual (89%). Responses across the 10 interactive scenarios indicated that the majority of participants (90%) endorsed active bystander intervention, rather than choosing to disengage or walk away. Participants reported high levels of perceived impact from the intervention. Between 70% and 85% agreed or strongly agreed that the intervention improved their understanding of domestic violence, while approximately 10–20% selected neutral responses. Disagreement remained low (generally below 10%), suggesting strong gains in awareness. Similarly, participants reported positive perceptions of the technology platform. Approximately 75–90% agreed or strongly agreed that the platform was easy to use and accessible, with minimal disagreement (<10%). In addition, 70–85% of participants agreed that the scenarios were realistic and helpful in illustrating bystander intervention strategies. While neutral responses (~10–15%) indicate some opportunity for improving user experience, overall, the intervention demonstrated consistently high levels of agreement (65–90%) across key outcomes, including awareness, confidence, and usability. Qualitative feedback further supported these findings, with participants describing the website as “easy to navigate,” “user-friendly,” and providing “just the right amount of information.” These responses highlight the acceptability and perceived effectiveness of this technology-based intervention.

Conclusion: The development of an online, technology-based platform to engage bystanders represents an important step toward addressing domestic violence within South Asian communities. By leveraging accessible and culturally responsive digital tools, this intervention has the potential to overcome barriers related to stigma, privacy, and help-seeking. Furthermore, the platform demonstrates strong adaptability and can be tailored to meet the needs of other cultural and community groups, thereby extending its broader public health impact.