The Role of Cultural and Structural Factors in the Manifestation of Abuse and Help Seeking Patterns for Battered Mexican Immigrant Women

The purpose of this qualitative study, using a phenomenological grounded theory approach, is to ascertain from the perspective of Mexican immigrant victims of intimate partner violence, the structural and cultural factors at play in the manifestation of abuse and help seeking. A convenience sample of recently arrived Mexican immigrant victims of domestic violence (n=29) and a purposive sample of service providers (n=15) were interviewed in New York City and St. Louis. Key findings emerged regarding the role of gender norms and expectations, value placed on children and motherhood as well as the role of family of origin social network ties in the manifestation of abuse. Findings were also reported on the predominant help seeking patterns that emerged in the two research sites