Citation

Brabeck KM, Guzmán MR. Violence Vict. 2009; 24(6): 817-832.

Affiliation

Rhode Island College, Department of Counseling, Educational Leadership, School Psychology, Providence, RI 02908, USA. kbrabeck@ric.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Springer Publishing)

DOI

10.1891/0886-6708.24.6.817

PMID

20055217

Abstract

Women's responses to partner abuse are shaped by their particular sociocultural contexts. In this study, quantitative data were collected from 75 Mexican-origin women who survived intimate partner abuse, to identify variables associated with help-seeking to survive relationship abuse. Help-seeking was defined as use of formal (e.g., shelter) and informal (e.g., family) sources. Variables included two cultural variables: machismo (i.e., adherence to traditional gender roles) and familismo (i.e., valuing family cohesion and reciprocity), and four sociostructural variables: income, education, English proficiency, and immigrant status. Results indicated participants with higher levels of familismo sought informal help more frequently than those with lower levels. Women with grade school education, no English proficiency, and undocumented status sought formal help less frequently than those not constrained by these barriers.

Language: en