Citation

Brabeck KM, Guzmán MR. Violence Against Women 2008; 14(11): 1274-1294.

Affiliation

Department of Counseling, Educational Leadership, and School Psychology, Rhode Island College, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077801208325087

PMID

18838618

Abstract

This study documented the frequency and perceived effectiveness of battered Mexican-origin women's usage of formal and informal help and personal strategies to survive abuse. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 75 battered Mexican-origin women. Consistent with survivor theory, results indicated that participants sought help multiple times from several formal and informal help sources; some (i.e., shelter, family) were perceived more effective than others (i.e., lawyer, in-laws). Participants engaged in various personal strategies to survive abuse; some (i.e., using faith/religion) were rated more effective than others (i.e., placating the batterer). Responses to open-ended questions suggest why specific help sources and strategies were/were not effective and provide socioculturally specific suggestions for improving services. This study illuminates battered Mexican-origin women's strengths and barriers that impede their survival efforts. Contributions include focusing on a subset of battered Latinas and documenting the frequency and perceived effectiveness of a wide array of help sources and strategies.

Language: en