title: Lessons from families and communities about interpersonal violence, victimization, and seeking help.
abstract: Despite significant incidence and physical and mental health consequences, most college-age women do not tell anyone about experiences of interpersonal violence. Limited research explores the sociocultural context of seeking help related to violence in young women. The overall purpose of this research was to understand socially and culturally relevant factors associated with violence help seeking in college women. Eight focus groups were held with 64 participants. Narrative analysis was the primary method of analysis. Four qualitative categories emerged from the data: "Learning from one's mother"; "We're strong women; we fight"; "We didn't talk about it"; and "Where I'm from." Findings suggest that help seeking is influenced by the messages from and experiences of mothers and extended family members. An understanding of familial and cultural determinants of help seeking is essential for relevant and effective prevention efforts.
authors.affiliation: William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA. angela.amar.1@bc.edu
authors.forename: Angela Frederick
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Amar
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bess
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stockbridge
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D053604:Forensic Nursing; D006801:Humans; D009511:New England; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012931:Social Environment; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult