Immigration and family violence at the household level of analysis: Examining the effects of immigrant culture and neighborhood structure

This study concerns the relationship between immigration and family violence at the household level of analysis. Previous studies have suggested that immigrant status – particularly first generation immigrant status - is not associated with crime. However, the same cannot be said about their descendants the second and third generations; as they are not as insulated from crime as their forefathers. This study measures the following variables which are relevant to the immigration and family violence relationship; immigrant generational status, acculturation levels, patriarchy, family oriented values, collective efficacy, surveillance, and measures of informal social control. This study finds that there is less family violence on first generation immigrant households than in second generation immigrant household who in turn have less family violence than third generation or higher immigrant households. Secondly, first generation immigrants are less acculturated and have a higher level of espousing of family oriented values than the second generation who in turn are less acculturated and a lower level of espousing of family oriented values than third generation or higher immigrants. Acculturation is found to be correlated with family violence while family oriented values are found to be protective against family violence