177601 Adolescent dating violence among immigrant and second-generation immigrant females in Boston

Monday, October 27, 2008: 2:50 PM

Jhumka Gupta, ScD , Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Elizabeth Miller, MD, PhD , Department of Pediatrics, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA
Elizabeth A. Reed, ScD , Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Michele R. Decker, ScD , Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Anita Raj, PhD , Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Jay G. Silverman, PhD , Department of Society, Human Development & Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA
Background: Despite high rates of intimate partner violence among some immigrant groups, growing numbers of children of immigrants in the U.S. (i.e. second generation), and increasing concern regarding dating violence among adolescent populations, little work has examined how vulnerability to dating violence may vary by immigrant generational status.

Objectives: 1)quantitatively assess differences in prevalence of dating violence among immigrant and second generation adolescent girls, 2)qualitatively explore how immigrant generational status may confer vulnerability to dating violence victimization.

Methods: This study was conducted via an anonymous, cross-sectional survey of English and Spanish-speaking females ages 14-20 years seeking health care in five clinics providing services to adolescents in Boston. The current analyses are limited to a sub-sample of immigrant and second generation immigrant girls (N=227). Adolescent girls self-reported on their dating violence experiences via an automated computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI). Qualitative interviews were also conducted with adolescent survivors of dating violence to explore potential mechanisms relating to generational status and vulnerability.

Results: Second generation immigrant girls were nearly twice as likely to report having ever experienced dating violence in comparison to their foreign-born counterparts (AOR=1.97, 95% CI =1.03, 3.76). Qualitative interviews revealed relevant contextual themes including family disruptions, parental expectations for intimate relationships, and poverty.

Conclusion: It is hoped that the present study will elucidate preliminary information on how the context of immigrant generational status may impact vulnerability to dating violence. Findings from this study may inform the development of culturally relevant prevention and intervention programming for these populations.

Learning Objectives:
To describe the prevalence of dating violence among immigrant and second generation immigrant adolescent girls To discuss future research and programmatic implications

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Leading the analysis and conceptualization for the proposed abstract.
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.

See more of: Intimate partner violence and substance abuse among immigrants
See more of: Caucus on Refugee and Immigrant Health