Differences in Effects of Domestic Violence Between Latina and Non-Latina Women

Perceptions and Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence Among Hispanic College Students

“…However, while virtually all sources have agreed that programs and services for the prevention and intervention of domestic violence should be culturally sensitive, most decry marianismo and familismo for restricting the lives of women and making them vulnerable to IPV (Edelson et al, 2007;Rondon, 2003). There is far more evidence that women remain in abusive relationships out of fear and lack of resources that would allow them to leave than out of a sense of pride in enduring suffering (Edelson et al, 2007;Gonzalez-Guarda et al, 2009;Montalvo-Liendo et al, 2009;Murdaugh et al, 2004;Rodriguez et al, 2001). Shame, depression, and low-self-esteem are extremely prevalent among abused Latinas and they have the insidious effect of making it more difficult for women to disclose the abuse and leave the abuser.…”

“…Latinas who endure abusive relationships typically do so more out of fear and lack of access to resources that would allow them to leave than to adherence to cultural constructs of machismo and marianismo (Edelson et al, 2007;Gonzalez-Guarda et al, 2009;Montalvo-Liendo et al, 2009;Murdaugh et al, 2004;Rodriguez et al, 2001). …”

The Influence of Parental Aggression and Cultural Gender Role Beliefs on Hispanic College Women's Experiences with Psychological Aggression

“…Studies examining college-aged Hispanic women have noted that the rates of IPV victimization are high (Edelson, Hokoda & Ramos-Lira, 2007;Muñoz-Rivas et al, 2009;Nabors & Jasinski, 2009;Schnurr et al, 2013). However, few studies have exclusively focused on Hispanic women in college settings.…”

“…Suffering from these harmful consequences may, in turn, increase the likelihood that victims of psychological aggression will participate in heavy drug and alcohol use (Coker et al, 2002) and attempt suicide (Pico-Alfonso et al, 2006). Although no studies specifically consider the implications of psychological aggression among Hispanic populations, research on the consequences of other types of IPV have shown that Hispanic victims had significantly greater trauma-related symptoms, depression, lower social and personal self-esteem, and were less likely to make global attributions of positive events when compared to white women of the same age group (see Edelson et al, 2007).…”

“…However, familismo frameworks also may make it more difficult for victims to leave abusive partners since many family members have a vested interest in the continuation of the nuclear family (Edelson et al, 2007). The messages that Hispanic parents model for their daughters about appropriate behavior in intimate relationships are especially likely to shape their beliefs about IPV (Hovell et al, 1994;Raffaelli & Ontai, 2001;Raffaelli & Suárez-al-Adam, 1998;Villaruel, 1998).…”