Examining Barriers to Seeking Help Among Latina Survivors of IPV

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

The current study examines barriers to help-seeking for Latina victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). Most research explores both informal and formal help-seeking and tends to rely on female college samples or focus predominantly on white victims. While some studies suggest minorities are less likely to seek help, other studies find similar rates. Given the nature of IPV, it is possible that reported barriers may appear similar across racial groups. On the other hand, it could be that the intersection of race and culture causes a vastly different victimization experience for Latinx IPV survivors, causing reported barriers to differ greatly across racial groups. Indeed, prior research has noted the influence of different demographic factors and victimization type on help-seeking behaviors. Therefore, this study seeks to answer the following research questions: (1) What are the most prevalent barriers to help-seeking among Latina survivors of IPV? (2) How do barriers to help-seeking for Latina survivors of IPV differ from barriers reported by victims of another race/ethnicity? Relying on secondary data, this study hopes to serve as a starting point for future research to continue examining the effects of IPV in various contexts and across different, understudied groups.

Authors

• Cristal Hernandez, Sam Houston State University

• Shelly Clevenger, Sam Houston State University