Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health Outcomes

among US Born, Immigrant, and Migrant Latinas  

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and related mental health outcomes among Latina women. Data were derived from Latinas who were receiving health care services from a large primary care health organization in Southern California. Women were interviewed about demographic characteristics, substance use, mental health issues, and IPV. Participants included 117 immigrants, 126 US born, and 49 migrant Latinas. Among the 292 respondents, significantly more US born (21.4%) and migrants (18.4%), in contrast to immigrants (5.1%), reported any sexual abuse in the previous 12 months.  The reports of physical and psychological violence for the past year were high but not significant between groups. Partner substance use was associated with past year physical and psychological IPV. Marital status- divorced/separated was associated with physical, sexual, and psychological IPV. Relative to immigrant women, those who were U.S. born were at increased risk of sexual and psychological victimization and migrant women were at increased risk for sexual victimization when demographic factors were controlled. Regression analyses were used to examine the associations of IPV with potential mental health outcomes. Physical violence was associated with symptoms of depression and hostility and psychological abuse was related to depression, hostility, and somatization.  Sexual violence was negatively associated with phobic anxiety.  Intimate partner violence experiences were not related to participants’ self-esteem.  Implications for policy, practice, and early prevention/intervention strategies will be discussed. 
 

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See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)