Ethnic Differences in Intimate Partner Violence Among Latino Americans: Comparisons Among Mexican, Puerto Rican and Cuban Americans

Research on IPV and intervention has paid attention to Latino Americans with the increase of the number of Latino immigrants in the U.S. The majority of studies has discussed the cultural differences in IPV experiences between Latinos and non-Latinos (Caetano et al., 2002; Kasturirangan, Krishnan, Riger, 2004). Culture, immigrant contexts such as acculturation, and economic insecurity, and legal vulnerability were mainly discussed as important factors affecting IPV experiences of immigrants (Raj & Silverman, 2002). However, ethnic differences in IPV experiences within Latino immigrants were rarely examined and the interventions considering their different ethnicities were rarely developed. This study examined ethnic differences within Latinos in IPV experience and severity of IPV. Also it examined factors affecting them as related to immigration stresses, family issues and quality of marriage relationships.

This study used the Latino subsample from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS) from 2002 to 2003. The NLAAS gathered detailed data about acculturation stresses and marriage-related issues from 2,554 Latino respondents, including Cuban, Puerto Rican, Mexican and other Latinos (n= 577, 495, 868, 614 respectively). The respondents' race, gender, age, education, financial status, employment, marriage satisfaction, quality of marital relationship, and family issues associated with acculturation stresses were included in the analyses. Immigration stresses were measured by acculturation stress, discrimination and neighborhood safety. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine if ethnic differences among Latino immigrants influenced IPV victimization, perpetration, and severity. Also, the factors affecting on them were examined.

There were ethnic differences in IPV victimization and perpetration among Latinos; 11.6% of Latinos were victimized by IPV and 15.9% perpetrated IPV. Puerto Ricans and Mexicans were 3 times more likely to be victimized than Cubans, and about 2 times more likely to perpetrate IPV than Cubans. The reason for less IPV among Cubans could not be further examined in this study, but cultural contexts associated with their unique history of immigration might be a factor., The odds of victimization and perpetration were significantly lowered, as marriage satisfaction increased and family conflicts decreased. There was no ethnic difference in severity of IPV among Latinos. Of all Latinos victims, 34.4% experienced severe IPV and 65.6% experienced minor IPV. Latinos with higher levels of acculturation stresses were less likely to experience severe IPV. The interpretation of this result is not intuitive, but effects of acculturation might be too complex to be examined with a couple of measures (Kasturirangan, Krishnan, Riger, 2004). Finally, Latinos living in the safer neighborhood were less likely to experience severe IPV experiences.

This study found significant ethnic differences on IPV experiences among Latinos. The immigration stresses seemed to affect IPV severity rather than IPV victimization and perpetration. These results suggest that differences in culture and ethnicity among Latinos should be considered in IPV research, policy, and practice. Further investigation is needed to explain why immigration stresses have different effects on IPV experiences among Latinos. Also, intervention strategies for IPV victims and offenders should be developed to address unique and specific needs of each of Latino ethnic groups.