Improving Quality of Life Among Latinas Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence through Financial Empowerment

Background and Purpose: Although Latinas experience the same rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) as other ethnic and racial groups; they are at higher risk of experiencing its adverse consequences. IPV can cause short and long-term physical and mental health problems, diminishing survivors’ quality of life. Since health disparities among Latinas is prevalent, it is critical to explore innovative interventions that may improve quality of life for Latina women. Financial empowerment is shown to increase the quality of life among women. However, research exploring the effects of financial empowerment on Latina IPV survivors’ quality of life has yet to be conducted. Thus, this study seeks to explore the association between financial empowerment factors and quality of life among Latinas survivors of IPV.  

Methods: Data were collected as part of a randomized controlled trial to evaluate a financial education curriculum designed for survivors of IPV. Interviews were conducted over four time periods, spanning 14 months. Participants were recruited in seven states across the Northwest, Midwest, and Texas regions of the United States and Puerto Rico. Participants were asked about their financial knowledge, economic self-efficiency, economic self-sufficiency, financial strain, IPV experience, quality of life, and demographic characteristics, including employment status and income. Over half of participants (54.3%; n=246) identified as Latinas. Almost half (49.75%) of those who identified as Latinas were unemployed and most (71.50%) were born outside of the United States.

Participants who completed only one interview (n=46) were excluded from this analysis. Multiple imputation by chained equations was used to impute all remaining missing observations and Generalized Least Squares Random Effect nested models (with robust standard errors) were conducted. Model 1 examined the association between Latinas’ quality of life and the different types of IPV across time. Financial empowerment variables across time were incorporated in Model 2 and Model 3. Annual income and employment status were included as covariates.

Results: Results indicated that financial knowledge (b=.10, p<.05), economic self-efficacy (b=.30, p<.001), and economic self-sufficiency (b=.25, p<.001) had a significant and positive effect on Latinas’ quality of life. Financial strain (b=-.62, p<.001) and an annual income of between $25,000 to $35,000, compared to an income of less than $10,000, (b=-.26, p<.05) had a significant and negative effect on quality of life. The model was significant according to the F test (p<0.001) and explained 54% of the variance. The results are similar to those obtained when excluding imputed data.

Conclusion and Implication: Quality of life among Latinas is improved with increased financial empowerment as it relates to knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-efficiency and a decrease in financial strain. These findings inform efforts to address Latinas’ quality of life at the community level. Organizations serving Latina survivors of IPV should consider adopting a financial education curriculum to promote financial empowerment and, consequently, their quality of life.

An interesting finding warranting further exploration is that Latinas with a higher income, when compared to those with an income of $10,000 or less, reported a decrease in their quality of life.