Journal Article

Intimate Partner Violence and Depression Among Latin American Women in Toronto

Godoy-Ruiz, Paula, Vidal, Carolina, Mason, Robin, McKenzie, Kwame, Toner, Brenda

2015

Overview

Research from the United States suggests that Latin American immigrant and refugee women are one of the groups most greatly impacted by intimate partner violence (IPV) and associated mental health consequences including higher rates of depression than women from other ethno-racial groups. In Canada, little is known about the experience of IPV and mental health among this population. Even in the broader North American context, how Latin American women themselves perceive the connection between IPV and depression is unknown. This paper presents the findings of a pilot study that examined the perceived relationship between IPV and depression among Spanish-Speaking Latin American Women in Toronto, Canada. The theoretical framework guiding this qualitative study combined an ecological model for understanding gender based violence and mental health with critical intersectionality theory. Using a convenience and snowball sampling method, semi-structured interviews (n = 12) were conducted and thematic content analysis was completed supported by Nvivo9® qualitative data management software. All participants had experienced some form of IPV in their adult lives, with psychological violence being the most common. Women perceived a powerful connection between IPV and depression, a link made stronger by the accumulation of other adverse life experiences including childhood abuse, war traumas and migration. The results suggest that IPV is just one of the challenges experienced by Latin American refugee and immigrant women. IPV is experienced in the context of other traumatic experiences and social hardships that may work to intensify the association of IPV and depression in this population.

• Publisher: Springer Science + Business Media,Springer US,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Abuse / Accumulation / Adult / Aggression / Alcohol Abuse / Canada - epidemiology / Central America - ethnology / Child abuse & neglect / Childhood factors / Children / Comparative Law / Content analysis / Cultural Influences / Data management / Depression / Depression - ethnology / Depression - psychology / Domestic violence / Ecological models / Ecological monitoring / Economic Status / Emigrants and Immigrants - psychology / Emotional abuse / Family Violence / Female / Females / Gender / Gender Discrimination / Gender Issues / Gender-based violence / Hispanic Americans / Humans / Immigrants / International & Foreign Law / Intersectionality / Interviews / Interviews as Topic / Intimate partner violence / Latin / Latin America - ethnology / Latin American cultural groups / Latin Americans / Life experiences / Medical research / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mental depression / Mental disorders / Mental health / Mental Health - ethnology / Mental Health and Substance Use / Mental health care / Mental Health Programs / Mental health services / Meta Analysis / Middle Aged / Migration / Noncitizens / Original Paper / Physical Disabilities / Pilot Projects / Population / Private International Law / Public Health / Qualitative analysis / Qualitative Research / Race / Racial groups / Refugees / Refugees - psychology / Sampling / Semi Structured Interviews / Snowball sampling / Social Status / Sociology / Spanish language / Spouse Abuse - ethnology / Spouse Abuse - psychology / Structured interviews / Studies / Substance abuse / Substance use / Trauma / Traumatic life events / Violence / Women / Women's Health - ethnology