Family- and community-related determinants of intimate partner violence among Mexican and Puerto Rican origin mothers in fragile families

Hope as a Moderator of Intimate Partner Violence and Suicide Risk Behaviors Among Latinas

The current study investigated the role of hope in the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and suicide risk behaviors among a community sample of Latinas (N = 180). Moderation analyses revealed significant interaction effects demonstrating that both aspects of hope-agency and pathways-were associated with suicide risk behaviors at high levels of IPV. Results suggest hope may be helpful when IPV is at low levels, but it may exacerbate suicide risk when high levels of IPV are experienced among Latinas. Future directions and implications are discussed, including the importance of understanding the unique cultural context in which Latina survivors exist.

Disparities in Resource Availability, Psychological Intimate Partner Violence, and Depression Among Hispanic Women

This study aims to analyze the relationship between the availability of resources, exposure to psychological intimate partner violence (P-IPV), and depression in Hispanic women in South Florida. This secondary data analysis used cross-sectional baseline data from SEPA (Salud, Educación, Prevención y Autocuidado) III. SEPA III was a randomized controlled trial that tested the SEPA intervention with 320 cisgender, sexually active Hispanic women. Descriptive analysis, logistic, and multiple regressions were conducted. Lower sexual relationship power and attending religious services were associated with higher odds of P-IPV. Reporting a history of P-IPV in the last 3 months predicted depression scores and higher depression scores were associated with higher odds of experiencing P-IPV. Participants with higher depressive scores reported less education, increased emergency room utilization, and less sexual relationship power. P-IPV is highly prevalent among Hispanic women living in South Florida. The availability of personal and community resources can buffer the risk of P-IPV and its mental health consequences. Nurses can strengthen women's resources to prevent Hispanic women from exposure to P-IPV.

Changes in Collective Efficacy's Preventive Effect on Intimate Partner Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Following the logic of studies showing that collective efficacy within neighborhoods deters intimate partner violence (IPV), the promotion of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic may have weakened that effect. To examine that possibility, we analyzed panel data from 318 adults in Japan regarding IPV victimization and perceived collective efficacy at four time points. A latent growth model (LGM) analysis for each measure revealed that informal social control, a subscale of collective efficacy, has declined since the pandemic began, whereas no significant changes have occurred in social cohesion and trust, another subscale of collective efficacy, and IPV victimization. Furthermore, two parallel LGM analyses revealed that although collective efficacy before the pandemic suppressed subsequent IPV victimization, changes in collective efficacy during the pandemic have been positively associated with changes in IPV. Those results suggest that collective efficacy's protective effect on IPV is moderated by whether interactions between intimate partners and their neighbors are socially normative.

Intimate Partner Violence Experiences Among Puerto Rican Mothers

This qualitative, transcendental, phenomenological study explored the subjective experiences of Puerto Rican mothers, aged 18 and older, who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) and their perceptions of how provider and law enforcement approaches to screening impacted disclosure. Participant recruitment was coordinated with gatekeepers, and community and domestic violence organizations, who posted bilingual flyers. A total of nine Puerto Rican woman aged 18 and older who experienced IPV participated and agreed to consent to audio-recorded interviews. Data analysis integrated content and thematic procedures, including transcribing, reading, auditing, and coding the interviews based on statements, quotes, and sentences, then grouped into themes that captured the essence of their lived experiences. The IPV was perpetrated primarily by the children's biological fathers and escalated over time. Four of the eight participants (one was lost to follow-up) had been screened while seeking medical care for IPV-related injuries, two disclosed their IPV, and one of the two was provided with a referral for IPV resources. All had multiple previous encounters with law enforcement but were afraid and ashamed to disclose the IPV. Lack of disclosure was associated with Hispanic cultural values and norms that included collectivism or keeping group cohesiveness, familism that socially emphasizes the family unit, marianismo as an ascribed female gender role of self-sacrifice and caregiving, and threats that their children would be removed from the home. Most of the women did not have knowledge of resources available to them and wanted to keep the family unit together. All believed they would be blamed for the incidents. Major implications include the need for multilanguage and multimedia campaigns to improve access to information, transparency with IPV screenings that may influence IPV disclosure, and systemwide education that addresses mother-blaming.

Examining the relationship between urban liveability and gender-based violence: A systematic review

Gender-based violence can include, but is not limited to, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, rape, and intimate partner homicide. It is well-established that gender inequality is the main driver of gender-based violence. However, little work has attempted to unpack how gender-based violence perpetuates within the neighbourhood context, and whether 'liveability' attributes might intersect with gender inequality and violence. We systematically reviewed quantitative evidence examining associations between gender-based violence and several liveability neighbourhood-level factors. MEDLINE (Ovid) and Scopus databases yielded 1822 potentially relevant articles. 50 articles met inclusion criteria. Neighbourhood social capital was most consistently associated with reduced gender-based violence. Few studies examined built environment attributes (e.g. gambling venue densities, access to services). Future research is needed to more deeply examine how combinations of salutogenic or pathogenic neighbourhood attributes may reinforce or prevent violence.

A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review: Infidelity, Romantic Jealousy and Intimate Partner Violence against Women

Infidelity and romantic jealousy (RJ) are commonly cited relational level drivers of intimate partner violence (IPV) but remain undertheorized and underutilized in IPV research and prevention. This global systematic review aims to characterize the existing research on real or suspected infidelity and RJ in relation to IPV and inform future research and programming. We systematically searched 11 databases for peer-reviewed research, published between April 2009 and 2019, that provided data on the prevalence or a measure of association (quantitative), or pathway (qualitative), between real or suspected infidelity or RJ, and IPV. Fifty-one papers from 28 countries were included and the evidence showed a consistent association between real or suspected infidelity, RJ and IPV. Our findings identify three overarching mechanisms and six pathways between infidelity, RJ and IPV. These provide support for prominent theories in the field related to patriarchal culture, threatened masculinities and femininities and a lack of emotional regulation and conflict resolution skills, but not evolutionary theories. Our findings suggest that researchers should use standardized measurement tools that make the distinction between RJ and suspected, confirmed and accusations of infidelity. Policy and programming should aim to transform traditional gender roles, accounting for infidelity and RJ and improving couple's communication and trust.