Immigrant Mexican women (IMW) experience domestic violence (DV) as adults, yet little is known about childhood sexual abuse (CSA) experiences and possible linkages between childhood and adult abuses. A qualitative exploratory study was conducted using in-depth interviews and grounded theory to examine DV among nine IMW residing in a southwestern city. Experience of childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, and the role of familism on reporting and disclosing were categories that emerged in the data. Findings indicated seven of the nine participants had experienced CSA. Social workers in practice can utilize findings toward a better understanding of how to serve IMW.
AhrensC. E.IsasL.Rios-MandelL. C.LopezM. (2010). Talking about interpersonal violence: Cultural influences on Latinas’ identification and disclosure of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 2, 284–295. doi:10.1037/a0018605
2.
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text revised, DSM-IV-TR). Arlington, VA: Author.
3.
BrabeckK. M.GuzmánM. R. (2009). Exploring Mexican-origin intimate partner abuse survivors’ help-seeking within their sociocultural contexts. Violence and Victims, 24, 817–832. doi:10.1891/0886-6708.24.6.817
4.
DaigneaultI.HébertM.McDuffP. (2009). Men’s and women’s childhood sexual abuse and victimization in adult partner relationships: A study of risk factors. Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal, 33, 638–647. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2009.04.003
5.
EdelsonM. G.HokodaA.Ramos-LiraL. (2007). Differences in effects of domestic violence between Latina and non-Latina women. Journal of Family Violence, 22, 1–10. doi:10.1007/s10896-006-9051-1
6.
GainesS. O.Jr.MarelichW. D.BledsoeK. L.SteersW. N.HendersonM. C.GranroseC. S.PageM. S. (1997). Links between race/ethnicity and cultural values as mediated by racial/ethnic identity and moderated by gender. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72, 1460–1476. doi:10.1037//0022-3514.72.6.1460
7.
GlaserB. (2001). The grounded theory perspective: Conceptualization contrasted with description. Mill Valley, CA: Sociology Press.
8.
GlaserB.StraussA. (1967). Discovery of grounded theory. Chicago, IL: Aldine.
9.
Guilamo-RamosV.BourisA.JaccardJ.LesesneC.BallanM. (2009). Familial and cultural influences on sexual risk behaviors among Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Dominican youth. AIDS Education and Prevention, 21, 61–79. doi:10.1521/aeap.2009.21.5_supp.61
10.
HancockT. (2007). Addressing wife abuse in Mexican immigrant couples: Challenges for family social workers. Journal of Family Social Work, 10, 31–50. doi:10.1300/J039v10n03_03
11.
HatteryA. J. (2009). Sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence and intimate partner violence in adulthood among African American and White Women. Race, Gender, & Class, 16, 193–217.
12.
Karin Bø VatnarS.BjørklyS. (2008). An interactional perspective of intimate partner violence: An in-depth semi-structured interview of a representative sample of help-seeking women. Journal of Family Violence, 23, 265–279. doi:10.1007/s10896-007-9150-7
13.
KasturiranganA.KrishnanS.RigerS. (2004). The impact of culture and minority status on women’s experience of domestic violence. Trauma, Violence, and Abuse, 5, 318–332. doi:10.1177/1524838004269487
14.
KlevensJ.ShelleyG.Clavel-ArcasC.BarneyD. D.TobarC.DuranE. S.Barajas-MazaheriR.EsparzaJ. (2007). Latinos’ perspectives and experiences with intimate partner violence. Violence Against Women, 13, 141–158. doi:10.1177/1077801206296980
15.
KrebsC.BriedingM. J.BrowneA.WarnerT. (2011). The association between different types of intimate partner violence experienced by women. Journal of Family Violence, 26, 487–500. doi:10.1007/s10896-011-9383-3
16.
LiraL. R.KossM. P.RussoN. F. (1999). Mexican American women’s definitions of rape and sexual abuse. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 21, 236–265. doi:10.1177/0739986399213004
17.
LowG.OrganistaK, C. (2000). Latinas and sexual assault: Toward culturally sensitive assessment and intervention. Journal of Multicultural Social Work, 8, 131–157. doi:10.1300/J285v08n01_06
18.
Marrs FuchselC.MurphyS.DufresneR. (2012). Domestic violence, culture, and relationship dynamics among immigrant Mexican women. Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 27, 263–274. doi:10.1177/0886109912452403
19.
MarsigliaF. F.MilesB. W.DustmanP.SillsS. (2002). Ties that protect: An ecological perspective on Latino/a urban pre-adolescent drug use. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 11, 191–220. doi:10.1300/J051v11n03_03
20.
MaxwellJ. A. (1996). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
21.
PerillaJ. L. (1999). Domestic violence as a human rights issue: The case of immigrant Latinos. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 21, 107–133. doi:10.1177/0739986399212001
22.
ResnickM. (2000). Resilience and protective factors in the lives of adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 27, 1–2. doi:10.1016/S1054-139X(00)00142-7
23.
UlibarriM. D.UlloaE. C.CamachoL. (2009). Prevalence of sexually abusive experiences in childhood and adolescence among a community sample of Latinas: A descriptive study. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 18, 405–421. doi:10.1080/10538710903051088
24.
UllmanS. E.FilipasH. H. (2005). Ethnicity and child sexual abuse experiences of female college students. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 14, 67–89. doi:10.1300/J070v14n03_04
25.
Umaña-TaylorA. J.UpdegraffK. A.Gonzales-BackenM. A. (2011). Mexican-origin adolescent mothers’ stressors and psychosocial functioning: Examining ethnic identity affirmation and familism as moderators. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40, 140–157. doi:10.1007/s10964-010-9511-z
UpdegraffK. A.McHaleS. M.WhitemanS. D. (2005). Adolescent sibling relationships in Mexican American families: Exploring the role of familism. Journal of Family Psychology, 19, 512–522. doi:10.1037/0893-3200.19.4.512
28.
VidalesG. T. (2010). Arrested justice: The multifaceted plight of immigrant Latinas who faced domestic violence. Journal of Family Violence, 25, 533–544. doi:10.1007/s10896-010-9309-5
29.
WatsonB.HalfordW. K. (2010). Classes of childhood sexual abuse and women’s adult couple relationships. Violence and Victims, 25, 518–535. doi:10.1007/s10567-010-0066-z
