Factors that promote and sustain domestic violence in Mexican-Americans

Abstract

This study investigated factors that eighteen women in three focus groups believed promoted and sustained domestic violence in Mexican-American couples. This descriptive study explored the relationship between and domestic violence and domestic violence. Primary data were gathered by the Community Empowerment Partnership Project research team in study of violence in a small town in southwestern United States. Data were collected from three focus groups, (two sessions each), of Mexican-American women living in this town. They represented older (50-76 years of age) and younger (20- 40 years of age) women. Eleven domains of meaning and three cultural themes emerged from the data. Findings were: The cultural characteristics of machismo/marianismo, religion, socio-economic status, alcohol use and abuse, family of origin behavior patterns, powerlessness and battered woman syndrome were found to be prevalent in promoting or sustaining domestic violence in Mexican-American families. Findings about pregnancy and abuse were not found in this sample as are described in the literature. This investigation was part of the larger community study "Alcohol and Drug Related Violence in a Mexican-American Town". (R01DA10789-0151) funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Principal Investigator, JoAnn Glittenberg, R.N. Ph.D.