Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health among Victimized Migrant Women

1. Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health among Victimized Migrant Women Blanca Ramos, Ph.D., MSW University at Albany, State University of New York, USA Bonnie Carlson, Ph.D., MSW Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA

2. Background • Intimate partner violence (IPV) a global problem, violation of human rights • IPV encompasses physical, psychological, and sexual violence • Migrant women face unique factors that elevate risk for IPV, including • Undocumented status • Racism • Fear of outsiders (xenophobia)

3. Consequences of IPV • IPV has many adverse consequences on victims • Physical health consequences well documented • Mental health consequences less well documented in migrant women

4. Research Questions • What is the extent of physical and psychological victimization in a sample of migrant Latinas? • What are the correlates of victimization with indicators of reduced mental health and well-being? • Hypothesis: acculturation stress will be positively associated with victimization

5. Methods: Procedure & Sample • Face to face interviews conducted by graduate students with male and female migrants from Latin American (mostly Mexico) to the U.S. • Sample demographic characteristics: • 110 women • Young (71% < age 35) • Low education (56% no HS degree) • Low income (about half earned < $20K per year)

6. Methods: Measures • IPV: Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, 1979) • Acculturation stress: X-item Acculturation Stress Scale (Caetano) • Depression and anxiety: PRIME-MD • Ataque de nervios– nervous attack, a culturally specific syndrome

7. Results: IPV and Acculturation • Victimization • 29% reported physical violence from partner • 62% reported psychological victimization • Victimization and acculturation stress: • r = .24 for physical victimization (p < .01) • r = . 32 for psychological victimization (p < .01)

8. Results: Mental Health • Victimization and depression: r=.35 for physical, r=.42 for psychological • Victimization and anxiety: r = .23 for physical, r = .28 for psychological • Victimization and ataque de nervios: r = .38 for physical, r =.54 for psychological • Victimization and self-esteem: r = -.37 for physical and r = -.29 for psychological

9. Conclusions • IPV is a significant problem among migrant women and is exacerbated by acculturation stress • IPV is associated with reduced mental health in terms of anxiety, depression and self-esteem • IPV against migrant women should be viewed as a human rights violation

10. Implications • Social workers should be familiar with the potential impact of acculturation stress on the emotional well-being of victimized migrant women. • Social workers should be prepared to address mental health concerns among victimized migrant women in a linguistic and culturally responsive manner recognizing the oppression, social inequality, and disempowerment they experience. • Social work responses to eradicate IPV against migrant women must take place at the individual, community, and societal levels.