229604 Role of gendered norms in young female and male Latino adults' experiences of relationship violence in a predominantly Latino New York City neighborhood area

Monday, November 8, 2010

David L. Bell, MD, MPH , Department of Pediatrics and Mailman School of Public Health's Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
Marina Catallozzi, MD , Department of Pediatrics and Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University, New York City, NY
Cynthia Golembeski, MPH , Columbia Center for Youth Violence Prevention, Columbia University, New York, NY
Saroj Sedalia, MPH , Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, NY
Vaughn I. Rickert, PsyD , School of Medicine and Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN
Leslie L. Davidson, MD, MSc , Department of Epidemiology and Mailman School of Public Health's Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
Aim: To explore the role of gendered norms and expectations regarding the nature and dynamics of coercive and violent behavior within young Latino adult heterosexual relationships, whereby men and women experience violence as perpetrator, victim or both.

Methods: 254 heterosexual, Latino 18-24 year old adults were screened with questionnaires. 37% screened positive for involvement in sexual and/or physical relationship violence. 20 men and 20 women participated in semi-structured interviews exploring violence in their current relationship. Screens and interviews were offered in Spanish or English. Researchers coded and analyzed the data using NVivo, and focused on themes related to gender norms, expectations and roles.

Results: Half report being in the relationship two years or longer and 65% rate the relationship as very important. Interview and screening data elucidate how gender norms, expectations and roles impact young adult relationships. Important themes include: dynamics of power and control; severity and directionality regarding violence; feelings and expectations; and past exposure to violence. Jealousy, conflict, and lack of trust were linked to coercion and violence. Emotionally and physically coercive behaviors, including electronic device monitoring, predominated. Women more frequently perpetrated violence, yet men inflicted the more serious physical violence. Sexual coercion was scarcely reported. Moreover, interviewees described sex as a conflict resolution strategy. Data reflect respondents' negotiations of gendered expectations and roles, which organize one's social world and inform opportunities, constraints, and choices regarding individual and interpersonal experiences.

Conclusion: Gendered norms, roles, and expectations play a significant role in interpersonal violence and impact young adult relationships.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify the severity of violent acts and attendant feelings, impacts, and coping strategies as reported by male and female respondents. Describe the influence of gender roles, norms, and expectations in regards to healthy and challenging aspects of the relationship. Explore how male and female descriptions of being a perpetrator and/or victim of relationship violence are similar or different in the context of this innovative study of young Latino adults.

Keywords: Latino Health, Domestic Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract author because I am Medical Director of the New York Presbyterian Young Men's Health Clinic, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Population and Family Health, and a Co-Investigator with the Columbia Center for Youth Violence Prevention.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3086.0: Expanding the Evidence: Status of Current Research II