Alianza: Publications: Annotated Bibliography

National Latino Alliance for the Elimination of Domestic Violence

Annotated Bibliography

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Search by Author's Last Name

Kantor, G.K. (1997). Alcohol and Spouse Abuse: Ethnic Differences. Recent Developments in Alcoholism, 13, 57-79).
Language: English

This chapter examines theoretical and empirical evidence on the interplay between ethnicity, structural and cultural factors, and alcohol-related assaults against wives and considers whether there is a differential vulnerability to such assaults among varying ethnic groups. Our review demonstrated that structural factors emerged as dominant in their difference on alcohol-related wife assaults in varying ethnic groups. The empirical evidence, though limited, showed that the linkages between drinking and wife beating are not just a problem of poor ethnic minorities. Heavy drinking per se is associated similarly in Hispanic-American and Anglo-American families. However, we also identified differences among Hispanic subgroups as well as cultural variations in drinking patterns that differentially affected wife assaults. Although data on alcohol-wife assault relationships among African-Americans are extremely limited, the available evidence indicates little or no effect of drinking by African-American men on wife assaults, after taking other socioeconomic variables into account. Empirical evidence did not support the saliency of particular beliefs favoring violence toward women as intrinsic to any one ethnic group. The major cultural differences in alcohol-related cognitions are consistent with the greater legitimization of alcohol-related misbehavior and the acceptance of "machismo" drinking by Hispanic-Americas compared to Anglo-Americans.

Kantor, G.K., Jasinski, J.L., & Aldarondo, E. (1994). Sociocultural Status and Incidence of Marital Violence in Hispanic Families. Violence and Victims, 9(3), 207-222.
Language: English

Examined data from the 1992 National Alcohol and Family Violence Survey of 1,970 families, including an oversample of Hispanic families, to determine the incidence of marital violence in the 3 major Hispanic-American subgroups and in Anglo-American families. It also examined how sociocultural status and attitudes toward violence affect wife assaults differentially. Findings show that Hispanic Americans, as a whole, do not differ significantly from Anglo Americans in their odds of wife assaults when norms regarding violence approval, age, and economic stressors are held constant. It was found that being born in the U.S. increases the risk of wife assaults by Mexican- and Puerto Rican-American husbands. However, the presence of norms sanctioning wife assaults within any group, regardless of SES, is a risk factor for wife abuse. ((c) 1997 APA/PsycINFO, all rights reserved).

Kanuha, V. (1994). Women of color in battering relationships. In L. Comas-Díaz & B. Greene (Eds.) Women of Color: Integrating Ethnic and Gender Identities in Psychotherapy (pp. 428-454). New York: Guilford Press.
Language: English

This chapter provides a critique on the literature on domestic violence against women and discusses sociocultural factors that impact battered women of color. The author gives a succinct account of factors specifically relating to Latina women, including the role of the church, gender roles, cultural and family loyalty, and other socially constructed expectations. Kahuna presents the views of battered women of color in terms of help seeking as well as the problems inherent in the focus of mental health practitioners on the individual rather than attempting to seek a balance among the women’s complex needs.

Kaufman-Kantor, G., Aldarondo, E. & Jasinsky, J. L., (In Press). Incidence of Alcohol-Related Wife Assaults in Latino and Anglo-American Families. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.
Language: English

This study examines the interplay between ethnicity, structural and cultural factors, and alcohol-related wife assaults. The 1992 National Alcohol and Family Violence Survey (N=1970) was used to evaluate the following:

1) The risk of alcohol-related wife assaults among various Latino and Anglo-American ethnic groups;
2) The relationship between cognitive mechanisms, ethnicity, and wife assault; and
3) The role of cultural factors in mediating the effects of drinking and alcohol expectancies in wife assault.

The analyses showed considerable variability in the rates and patterns of alcohol-related assaults among Latino groups. Heavy drinking was associated with higher rates of wife assault in both Latino and Anglo-American families. Aggressive alcohol expectancies and lack of economic resources were also found to be important contributors to the incidence of wife assault across ethnic groups. Multivariate analyses showed that structural factors exert a strong influence on alcohol-related wife assaults in various ethnic groups, net of alcohol consumption, and belief systems. We must recognize the heterogeneity among Latinos in the U.S if we are to understand and reduce the occurrence of alcohol-related wife assaults in these groups. The relationship between drinking and wife assault, however, is clearly not just a problem for Latino groups.

Klevens, J. (2001). Violencia física contra la mujer en Santa Fe de Bogotá: Prevalecía y factores asociados [Physical violence against women in Santa Fe de Bogotá: Prevalence and associated factors]. Revista Paramericana de Salud Pública [Pan American Journal of Public Health] 9(2), 78-83.
Language: Spanish

This article estimates the magnitude of violence against women in intimate relationships in the capital city of Colombia and identifies associated risk factors. Data collected from 3,157 female participants in public health pediatric or obstetric clinics revealed that 26.5% of the sample reported that their current partner had slapped or pushed them, and 13.3% that they had been hit with an object, beaten, or threatened with a weapon. Twenty-six percent of participants also indicated that their partner prohibited them from social activities, work, family planning, etc. Violence was significantly associated with less schooling, lower income, number of children, length of live-in relationship with partner, history of abuse in family of origin, and prohibitions imposed by partner. The two factors most strongly related to violence were frequency of conflict with partner and prohibitions imposed by partner.

Klevens, J., Roca, J., Restrepo, O. & Martínez, A. (2001). Risk factors for adult male criminality in Colombia. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 11, 73-85
Language: English

This study conducted in Colombia sought to establish the importance of factors alleged to be causes or correlates of adult criminality according to the published literature from other countries. The study compared 223 arrested male offenders (ages 18-30) and 222 similar community controls from 5 cities in Colombia as to their family background, exposure to abuse, family stressors, perceived care and history of childhood disruptive behaviors. Results indicated that offenders were significantly more likely than comparison group participants to report lower parental education, a mother under 18 or over 35 years old, family members involved in crimes, extreme economic deprivation, parental absence, family conflict, severe punishment, physical abuse, and maternal unavailability, rejection, and lack of supervision. Findings point to the importance of family factors in the risk for adult criminality.

Klevens, J., Bayón, M. C., & Sierra, M. (2000). Risk factors and context of men who physically abuse in Bogotá, Colombia. Child Abuse & Neglect, 24(3), 323-332.
Language: English

The purpose of this study conducted in Colombia was to identify risk factors for physical abused caused by male perpetrators, as well as to describe the context of abuse and the role of the female partners. In-depth interviews were conducted with 45 males reported to authorities for child physical abuse and their partners and 44 males and their female partners from the same neighborhood and with a child of the same gender and age as the abused child. Results indicated that abuse occurred more frequently with the mother being present, sometimes involved substance abuse and mental illness, and was related to lack of social support, history of childhood physical abuse, and unrealistic expectations about child. The female partners were more likely to have lower occupational level, higher frequency of dependent personality, a history of childhood physical and sexual abuse, and be herself physically and emotional abused by her spouse. Findings suggest the need to tailor preventive and rehabilitative interventions for abusers.

Klevens, J., Restrepo, O., & Roca, J. (2000). Some factors for explaining resilience amoung young men in Colombia. Revista de Salud Pública, 2(2), 165-172.
Language: English with Spanish summary

A secondary analysis of an existing database was used to explore childhood experiences that differentiated men who became delinquent or involved in substance abuse from those who did not (referred to a resilient), despite growing up in equally adverse circumstances. Findings show that resilient men tend to perceive caregiver as affectionate, available, aware of their whereabouts, and able to problem solve on their own more often than men who became delinquent or involved in substance abuse. They were also exposed to less physical abuse and family conflict. These findings appear to be independent of factors such as economic status, mother’s education and age, single parent households, number of siblings, birth order, parental crime and alcohol abuse or separation from parents. Authors point out the need to use prevention strategies that improve the quality of parent-child interactions and mentors.

Krane, J. L. (1995). Violence against women in intimate relationships: Insights from cross-cultural analyses. Transcultural Psychiatric Research Review, 33, 435-465.
Language: English

This article presents a broad overview of the cross-cultural literature on the abuse of women by partners with emphasis on cross-cultural patterns and variations in terms of prevalence, effects, risk factors for abuse and social responses to violence against women. The author provides a good review of prevalence data regarding domestic violence in several Latin American countries as well as specific challenges and risks faced by immigrant women. Although not solely addressing Latinas, the article provides a nice framework from which to explore the issue of domestic violence across cultures and societies.

Krishnan, S.P., Hilbert, J.C., VanLeeuwen, D., & Kolia, R. (1997). Documenting Domestic Violence among Ethnically Diverse Populations: Results from a Preliminary Study. Family and Community Health, 20(3), 32.
Language: English

Domestic violence shelters in rural areas with different ethnic populations need to tailor their services accordingly. A survey of three domestic violence shelters in rural New Mexico included Anglo, Hispanic and Native American women. Although the Hispanic women reported more physical violence in their relationship than Anglo women, they were less likely to report the incidents to the police and less likely to seek medical care.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

For help please call:

The National
Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)

The New York State Spanish Domestic Violence Hotline:

Español:
1-800-942-6908

English:
1-800-942-6906