Mexican American female adolescents' perceptions of relationships and dating violence.
OBJECTIVE
This study fills a gap regarding the perspectives of Mexican American female adolescents on dating relationships and dating violence (DV).


METHODS
This was a qualitative descriptive study. Focus groups included 20 Mexican American young women, primarily first and second generation, mean age 14.5 years (SD= 2.5). Data were analyzed with categorical analysis.


RESULTS
Participants described key components of DV and identified cultural aspects that may serve to promote healthy dating relationships.


CONCLUSIONS
Family-based interventions to promote exploration of gender roles and parent-child communication may foster biculturalism as well as promote healthy dating relationships and prevent violence within this cultural group.


CONCLUSIONS
In the United States, 10% to 40% of teens experience DV. Hispanic females experience more physical DV than their White peers.
College of Nursing, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA. kristin.haglund@mu.edu
Kristin
K
Haglund
Ruth Ann
RA
Belknap
Juanita Terrie
JT
Garcia
D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D003380:Courtship / Q000208:ethnology*; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D013240:Stereotyping; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult