Resilience Among Latina Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review of Protective Factors and Mechanisms

Background and Purpose: Intimate partner violence (IPV) poses significant risks for Latinas in the United States, where structural inequities and culturally specific norms may exacerbate survivors’ vulnerabilities. Despite considerable research on risk factors, limited attention has been paid to how survivors leverage resources to cope and heal. To address this gap, this systematic review uses the Resilience Portfolio Model (RPM) to synthesize existing evidence on protective factors and examines how these factors function, through additive, buffering, insulating, or inoculating mechanisms, to promote well-being.

Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a search of major databases in 2023 and updated in 2024. Studies were included if they focused on Latinx or Hispanic IPV survivors in the U.S. and examined resilience or well-being outcomes. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies were eligible, as were peer-reviewed articles and gray literature in English or Spanish. Using framework synthesis informed by the RPM, we categorized protective factors into three domains—regulatory, interpersonal-ecological, and meaning-making—and identified their resilience mechanisms: additive, buffering, insulating, and/or inoculation. Data were also extracted to capture study characteristics and well-being outcomes (e.g., psychological/emotional, physical, social, spiritual, economic).

Results: From 9,513 records, 39 studies met inclusion criteria, most of which included immigrant Latinas. Well-being outcomes were multidimensional. Psychological and emotional benefits were the most frequently reported, including reduced depression and anxiety, increased self-esteem, and a greater sense of empowerment. Physical health outcomes included reductions in pain and stress-related symptoms, adoption of healthier lifestyles, and improved access to healthcare and safety. Social well-being was enhanced by strong support networks, reduced isolation, and deeper community connection. Spiritual outcomes reflected increased faith, hope, and spiritual empowerment. Economic outcomes involved improved financial security, greater self-sufficiency, and broader access to resources.

Protective factors spanned all three RPM domains. Regulatory strengths (e.g., spiritual coping, financial self-efficacy, emotional regulation) commonly operated through additive and buffering mechanisms, enhancing psychological well-being and reducing IPV-related distress. Interpersonal-ecological strengths (e.g., peer-led support groups, bilingual legal aid, family support) buffered against trauma symptoms and insulated survivors from further harm—especially when combined with structural supports such as U-visas. Meaning-making strengths (e.g., prayer, reinterpretations of cultural norms, caregiving roles) supported empowerment and posttraumatic growth, often by transforming adversity into sources of meaning, identity, and purpose.

Although additive, buffering, and insulating mechanisms were well-documented, no studies identified inoculation effects. Importantly, these mechanisms frequently overlapped. For example, economic empowerment simultaneously improved emotional well-being (additive), reduced financial strain (buffering), and decreased dependency on abusive partners (insulating). Similarly, redefining marianismo norms contributed to both immediate empowerment (additive) and long-term protection from future victimization (insulating).

Conclusions and Implications: Findings support the Resilience Portfolio Model’s multidimensional framework, showing that Latina IPV survivors draw on multiple, overlapping resilience pathways. These pathways are rooted in cultural values, social relationships, and structural conditions. Practitioners and policymakers should prioritize holistic, strengths-based interventions that reflect this complexity. Recognizing how protective factors interact across domains is essential for developing programs and policies that promote survivors' safety, healing, and long-term well-being.