Victimization, psychological distress, and help-seeking: Disentangling the relationship for Latina victims.

Carlos A. Cuevas · Kristin A. Bell · Chiara Sabina

57 citations0/0 files storedPsychology of Violence

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Intimate Partner and Family Violence Child Abuse and Trauma Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the role of help-seeking on the victimization-psychological distress link. Specifically, we aim to determine whether help-seeking is associated with various forms of psychological distress among victims of interpersonal violence. METHOD: This study used data from the Sexual Assault Among Latinas (SALAS) Study, which surveyed 2,000 Latino women using random digit dial methodology, and queried participants about lifetime victimization, help-seeking behaviors associated with victimization, and psychological distress. Using linear regression with a subsample of the women who experienced victimization in adulthood (N = 242), we evaluated the association of victimization, cultural variables, formal help-seeking, and informal help-seeking on psychological distress. Subsequently, we also evaluated the relationship of each specific form of help-seeking on current psychological distress. RESULTS: Results suggest that formal help-seeking but not informal help-seeking was associated with lower psychological distress among Latino women. Specifically, formal help-seeking was associated with decreased levels of current depression, anger, dissociation, and anxiety. When looking at specific forms of formal help-seeking, reporting to police was the main form of help-seeking associated with decreased levels of current psychological distress. Interaction effects also showed the victimization--anger relationship was stronger for those with higher Latino orientation that were neither of Mexican nor Cuban descent. CONCLUSION: The results support the importance of promoting formal help-seeking behaviors, particularly police reporting, as a way of decreasing the negative psychological impact of victimization. Among Latinas, cultural factors and ethnicity need to be taken into consideration to better understand help-seeking behaviors and emotional functioning.

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References

1991Traumatic Events and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in an Urban Population of Young Adults 2000Full Report of the Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence Against Women 1999Nonresponse in Household Interview Surveys 2006Gauging the Impact of Growing Nonresponse on Estimates from a National RDD Telephone Survey 2005A Theoretical Framework for Understanding Help-Seeking Processes Among Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence 2007Polyvictimization and trauma in a national longitudinal cohort 2009Lifetime assessment of poly-victimization in a national sample of children and youth 1991Suppression situations in psychological research: Definitions, implications, and applications.

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2016Elements of Effective Interventions for Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in Latina Women: A Systematic Review 2021Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health Outcomes Among Hispanic Women in the United States: A Scoping Review 2016A literature review of intimate partner violence among immigrant populations: Engaging the faith community 2014The likelihood of Latino women to seek help in response to interpersonal victimization: An examination of individual, interpersonal and sociocultural influences

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