The tipping point: Intimate partner violence among hispanic women of mexican origin

Resumen

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an international public health problem. In the United States, IPV appears to be more prevalent among Hispanic women when compared to non-Hispanic women. Despite the body of research that focused on IPV among Hispanic women, no study could be located that describes how Hispanic women experiencing IPV decide to leave a relationship in which IPV is occurring. Aims: the purpose of this study is to use qualitative methods to explore how Hispanic women of Mexican origin who have experienced IPV decided to leave the relationship in which IPV occurred. Methods: fifty-nine women of Mexican origin were recruited from a low-income housing authority complex in El Paso, TX to participate in audiotaped focus groups. Data from the focus groups were transcribed and analyzed using grounded theory (GT) methodology. Data were collected until saturation was achieved. Results: participants were able to describe a process whereby they decided to leave a relationship in which IPV was occurring. The process included the categories of the shadow of violence, Vulnerability, Normalizing violence, the Tipping point, Lucidity, and Escaping the shadow of violence. Conclusions: the results of the study provided some important clinical implications for nurses providing care to Hispanic women experiencing IPV, or Hispanic women at risk for IPV. Results of this study provide directions for future research focused on the unique experiences of Hispanic women of Mexican origin in the context of IPV.