Sexual Violence, Post-Victimization Outcomes, and Structural Racism Among Latinas: A Latent Class Analysis

Purpose: The experience of sexual violence differs by racialized group. Structural racism (SR) may drive inequities in post-victimization outcomes by promoting inequitable access to resources and opportunity for BIPOC compared to white people. However, Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color who identify as women (BIPOC women) are often homogenized, which camouflages within group heterogeneity in access to opportunity and resources as well as the overarching experience of sexual violence. Among Latinas in particular, the role of racialized group is understudied and requires additional research using an SR lens because tailored interventions for subgroups are needed to address structural drivers of inequity that contribute to sexual violence. We sought to illuminate heterogeneity among Latinas with the following aims: (1) investigate qualitatively different subgroups (classes) that exist in victimization profiles based on type of sexual violence typology, post-victimization psychosocial outcomes, and SR among Latinas living in the US, and (2) determine whether Latinas’ racialized group predicted probability of latent class membership. Informed by ecosocial theory and intersectionality, we expected that two classes would emerge reflecting extremes in concentration of racialized deprivation and racialized privilege. Additionally, we hypothesized that class assignment would be associated with racialized group.

Methods: Using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), this observational study utilized latent class analysis, a person-centered approach, to examine within group heterogeneity in type of victimization, post-victimization outcomes, and exposure to SR among Latinas who survive sexual violence (n=244). The NCVS is a nationally representative complex survey sponsored by the US Bureau of Justice Statistics. Data from 2008-2022 was pooled to provide a sufficient sample size for LCA. Classes were identified based on number and severity of psychosocial post-victimization outcomes. Additionally, multinomial logistic regression was used to determine whether racialized group predicted different probability of being assigned to each class.

Results: Two classes were identified. Class # 1 – Internalized distress and minimal psychosocial problems (53.91%), was characterized by zero or one interpersonal problems and mild to extreme distress. Class #2 – High post-victimization psychosocial problems associated with rape (46.1%) was characterized by more than one interpersonal problem and high distress. Latinas in Class #2 had a greater probability of living in areas with the highest levels of SR. We did not find differences based on racialized group.

Conclusion: Latinas do not uniformly experience sexual violence or post-victimization outcomes. Findings suggest social workers must decenter whiteness in their diagnosis and treatment of BIPOC women who survive sexual violence particularly considering BIPOC women may present with symptoms that do not align with “traditional” symptoms associated with trauma. Additionally, researchers must work to collect data from diverse samples of Latinas that allow for intersectional examination of experiences of violence and access to resources that may provide primary and secondary prevention for Latinas and BIPOC women.