title: Examining the relationship between Latinas' perceptions about what constitutes domestic violence and domestic violence victimization.
abstract: Domestic violence is a serious issue for U.S. Latinas. Better understanding of the potential risk or protection that cultural perceptions about what constitutes domestic violence may convey can help strengthen interventions. Therefore, a convenience sample of 93 Latinas was surveyed about their current levels of domestic violence victimization, acculturation, and demographics, as well as about whether 5 behavioral scenarios constituted domestic violence. Hierarchical multiple regressions were performed to examine the relationships between the 5 perception items and domestic violence victimization. After adjusting for established risk factors, only viewing male partner stalking and female verbal aggression as domestic violence were significantly associated with decreased domestic violence victimization. Findings can be integrated into the development and implementation of culturally competent interventions targeting Latinas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA. skulkar4@uncc.edu
authors.forename: Shanti J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.forename: Elizabeth F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Racine
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramos
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult