Systematic Review of Intimate Partner Violence Interventions for Latinas in the U.S.

Despite increased risks associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) among Latinas, there is limited knowledge about interventions focused on preventing and responding to IPV among this group or the culturally relevant components of these interventions. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review of IPV interventions for Latinas. To be included in the review, articles had to be peer-reviewed and available in English or Spanish; evaluate an IPV intervention conducted in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico); include Latinas; and quantitatively report at least one outcome. Our initial search yielded 3,344 unduplicated peer-reviewed articles, of which 20 met the inclusion criteria. The 20 resultant articles evaluated 14 unique interventions among 16 different study samples. Half of the studies focused on interventions that aimed to prevent IPV, whereas the other half focused on interventions that aimed to respond to IPV (i.e., provide services to those who had experienced or were experiencing IPV). Eight of the 14 interventions integrated culturally specific elements. While six studies were randomized controlled trials, most were pre-experimental in design. Interventions generally demonstrated positive outcomes on various measures. However, nine interventions reported mixed findings, emphasizing the complex factors influencing IPV among Latinas. Findings suggest the need for more mechanistic and nuanced research on potentially relevant culturally responsive content and approaches in IPV programming with Latinas, focusing on cultural strengths and structural challenges. Policies are needed to expand funding for innovative and rigorous IPV intervention research to further advance and strengthen existing practice options for Latina survivors.

Different Types of Intimate Partner Violence Among Latinx Women: A Call for Expanded Measurement, Screening, and Safety Planning.

Despite increased attention on intimate partner violence (IPV) among Latinx women in the United States, measurement often overlooks economic abuse, reproductive coercion, institution-related threats, and technology-facilitated abuse. Using a broad range of measures, this paper examines prevalence and correlations between different types of IPV among a sample of 38 Latinx women enrolled into a pilot study. Results indicate consistently high prevalence of IPV types and significant correlations between several types of abuse (including sexual abuse, technology-facilitated abuse, and institution-related threats). Findings emphasize the need for comprehensive IPV measurement, screening, expanded safety planning, and research on the impact of these types of abuse.

The longitudinal relationship between social support and victimization among latino teens.

PURPOSE: This study examines the relationship between social support and victimization of Latino youth over time, utilizing the stress prevention and support deterioration models. METHODS: To address the research questions we utilized data from Waves 1 and 2 (n = 574) of the Dating Violence among Latino Adolescents (DAVILA) study, a national bilingual phone survey of self-identified Latino youth and their caregiver. Cross-lagged panel modeling was used to assess the fit of the two theoretical models to observed patterns of covariance among the victimization and social support variables specified. RESULTS: Results show that victimization at Wave 1 was positively and strongly related to victimization at Wave 2 and social support at Wave 1 was positively and moderately associated with social support at Wave 2. As hypothesized, higher levels of victimization at Wave 1 were significantly related to decreases in social support at Wave 2 (ß = -.15). Wave 1 social support was not significantly related to victimization at Wave 2. CONCLUSIONS: We did not find support for the stress prevention model but did find support for the support deterioration model. Teens who were victimized tended to have lower levels of subsequent social support, highlighting the need to equip peers, family, and significant others to adequately respond to victimization disclosures.

Development and Validation of the Scale of Attitudes about Seeking Formal Help in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence.

Stigma plays a critical role in the decision-making process of intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors, particularly whether they disclose, initiate, and continue with care for the consequences of the violence. As such, this study developed and validated a scale to assess the manifestation of IPV stigma on survivors' attitudes toward accessing services, using a racially and ethnically diverse sample of women (N = 409). An exploratory factor analysis was conducted using a calibration subset (n = 206) to identify the factor structure of the newly developed scale. A confirmatory factor analysis was then performed using a validation subset (n = 203) to validate the hypothesized model. To assess language and Latina ethnic differences in the scale functioning, multiple indicators and multiple causes (MIMIC) modeling was applied. To test for construct validity, the scale's correlation with two conceptually relevant variables was estimated. The final exploratory factor analysis (EFA) model retained eight items across two factors, accounting for 58.63% of the variance. Factor 1 captures attitudes related to anticipated stigma, and factor 2 captures attitudes related to internalized stigma. Results from the CFA validated the hypothesized second-order, two-factor model of the scale of Attitudes About Seeking Formal Help. Overall, results from the MIMIC model indicated measurement invariance across English and Spanish-speaking and Latina and non-Latina survivors. Construct validity was supported. This scale provides a tool to help capture and understand IPV stigma in relation to accessing professional services. Specifically, practitioners will be able to identify survivors who endorse high negative attitudes about seeking formal help, potentially being at higher risk of service discontinuation. Such information could, in turn, help guide a targeted service plan. Practitioners may also use this tool with ongoing clients to inform their practices and determine whether specific IPV stigma should be the focus of intervention.

Patriarchy's Link to Intimate Partner Violence: Applications to Survivors' Asylum Claims.

Eligibility for asylum for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) has recently been contested. We summarize social science evidence to show how such survivors generally meet asylum criteria. Studies consistently show a relationship between patriarchal factors and IPV, thereby establishing a key asylum criterion that women are being persecuted because of their status as women. Empirical support is also provided for other asylum criteria, specifically: patriarchal norms contribute to state actors' unwillingness to protect survivors, and survivors' political opinions are linked to an escalation of perpetrators' violence. The findings have implications for policy reform and supporting individual asylum-seekers.

Patterns of Violence Victimization and Disclosure Among Transgender/Gender Nonconforming and Cisgender Latinx College Students.

Although research on sexual violence experiences of minoritized college students has increased in recent years, little is known about the experiences of Latinx students. Even less knowledge is available on whether such violence and disclosure experiences vary by gender identity. The present study addressed this gap by exploring the rates of sexual violence and disclosure patterns after experiences of sexual violence among Latinx college students. Using data from the 2019-2020 Healthy Minds Study, a national sample of Latinx college students was analyzed (n = 6,690). Descriptive statistics, χ2 tests, and one-way analyses of variance were conducted to explore differences in gender identity, sexual violence victimization, and disclosure type. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the association between (1) gender identity and sexual violence victimization and (2) gender identity and sexual violence disclosure while controlling for various sociodemographic measures. Results indicated sexual violence victimization occurred at significantly higher rates among transgender/gender nonconforming and cisgender women Latinx students, compared to cisgender men. Transgender/gender nonconforming students who experienced sexual violence were significantly less likely to make any disclosure of sexual violence when compared to cisgender men. These findings highlight the extent to which experiences of sexual violence among Latinx students differ based on their gender identity. It also brings attention to the need for campus programming to attend to students who often face structural barriers because of their intersecting identities, specifically transgender/gender nonconforming Latinx students.

Psychosocial and Culturally-Specific Factors Related to Intimate Partner Violence Victimization among a Sample of Latino Sexual Minority Cis Men in the U.S.

A growing body of research illustrates that sexual minority men (SMM) experience elevated rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) compared to heterosexual individuals. Researchers have examined the relationship between minority stress and IPV victimization among sexual minority men. A majority of the IPV research identifying risk factors associated with IPV victimization among SMM have sampled predominately non-Hispanic White SMM, while Latino SMM are consistently under-represented in IPV research. This study examines the associations between (1) co-occurring psychosocial factors (e.g., depression, anxiety, childhood sexual abuse, drug use, and problematic drinking) and (2) Latino-specific minority stress factors (e.g., U.S.-born, language, race/ethnic identities, and discrimination) on IPV victimization in a nationwide sample of Latino SMM. Data were collected from Latino SMM aged 18 or older, identified as cis-male, and in a romantic relationship with a cis-male partner (N = 530). The participants were recruited through social media and geo-location-based dating mobile applications. A majority (72%) of the sample reported IPV victimization in their lifetime. Specific to forms of IPV, more than half (51.9%) of the sample reported monitoring behaviors, while 49.6% reported emotional IPV, 45.1% reported physical IPV, 31.5% reported controlling behaviors, and 22.3% reported HIV-related IPV. In multivariable models, psychosocial and Latino-specific factors were associated with the increased likelihood of IPV victimization. Regarding Latino-specific factors, being born in the U.S. and race-based discrimination predicted IPV victimization. These findings highlight the extent to which minority stress elevates the risk of IPV for Latino SMM and point to the need to address social factors in IPV prevention services. Further, work on SMM IPV victimization tends to focus on the potential role of sexual orientation-related discrimination, whereas the current study points to the importance of race-based discrimination.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Intimate Partner Violence: an Analysis of Help-Seeking Messages in the Spanish-Speaking Media.

The role of the Spanish-speaking media is crucial for how Latinx communities learn about seeking help when experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). This study investigated the IPV help-seeking messages disseminated by the Spanish-speaking media in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. We engaged in an exploratory content analysis of videos from Univision's main website, the most-watched Spanish-speaking media network in the U.S. We searched for videos related to IPV help-seeking posted from March 19-April 21, 2020-including the weeks after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and the U.S. mandated a shelter-in-place. After assessing inclusion criteria, 29 videos were analyzed. Data were analyzed using basic content analysis to determine frequencies and inductive interpretive content analysis to code for help-seeking messages. We identified eight manifest messages related to seeking help when experiencing IPV in times of a crisis: (1) contact a professional resource; (2) contact law enforcement; (3) contact family, friends, and members of your community; (4) create a safety plan; (5) don't be afraid, be strong; (6) leave the situation; (7) protect yourself at home; and (8) services are available despite the pandemic. We found that the manifest messages alluded to three latent messages: (1) it is your responsibility to change your circumstances; (2) you are in danger and in need of protection; and (3) you are not alone. IPV and media professionals should ensure a structural understanding of IPV in their help-seeking messages and avoid perpetrating stigmatizing and reductionist messages.

Improving Quality of Life Among Latina Intimate Partner Violence Survivors Through Economic Empowerment.

This study examined the relationship between (1) quality of life and forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) (i.e., psychological abuse, physical violence, sexual violence, and types of economic abuse), and (2) quality of life and economic empowerment among Latina IPV survivors. The authors used data from the Moving Ahead financial literacy program evaluation (n = 200). Nested random-effects models were conducted. Findings indicated that psychological abuse and economic control were significantly and negatively associated with quality of life. Economic empowerment (i.e., financial knowledge, economic self-efficacy, and economic self-sufficiency) was significantly and positively related to Latinas' quality of life. Financial strain was inversely associated with Latina's quality of life. These findings highlight the importance of identifying strategies for increasing the overall well-being of Latina IPV survivors. Economic empowerment interventions can be an effective mechanism for improving their quality of life. As such, domestic violence organizations should include economic empowerment as part of the services offered to survivors.

Measurement invariance of the Brief Sense of Community Scale across non-Hispanic, Black and Hispanic college students.

Ethnic-racial background may influence college students' psychological sense of community (PSOC). Thus, it is critical to examine whether this construct is conceptualized similarly between non-Hispanic, Black and Hispanic students. This study tested the measurement invariance of the Brief Sense of Community Scale (BSCS) across the two groups. We used data from a self-administered online survey provided to college students in 2016 in a Northeastern urban university (non-Hispanic, Black = 307; Hispanic = 409). We tested the measurement invariance of the BSCS using a series of nested multigroup confirmatory factor analyses with increasingly restrictive sets of parameters. Measurement invariance of the BSCS across non-Hispanic, Black and Hispanic college students was achieved. The BSCS successfully measures the multidimensionality of PSOC across the two groups in a college setting. Students' score on the BSCS is not biased by measurement invariance related to cultural influences. When using the BSCS, community psychologists and researchers can have confidence that the observed differences in PSOC across non-Hispanic, Black and Hispanic college students are attributable to true differences rather than a cultural understanding of the construct.