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Family Closeness and Domestic Abuse Among Caribbean and South American Women in South Florida

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Abstract

This paper focuses on the importance of family member closeness as a protective factor against domestic abuse. We explore the link between long-lasting relations within the family and intra-familial violence perpetrated against women in Latino households in South Florida. We use data from an Inter-generational Transmission of Drug Use between Latina Mothers and Daughters (ITDMD) study. The study includes data on family relations and domestic abuse. We estimate a series of multivariate regressions to obtain the probability of abuse against women, the types of abuse inflicted and the relationship with the abusers. Our results indicate that among abused women, the effects of long-lasting relations within the family differ depending on the type of relationship between the abuser and the victim and the degree of closeness the victim feels towards other family members. Given these findings, there is a need to further study family relations and abuse in Latino households.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by award number P20MD002288 from the National Institute for Minority and Health Disparities and awards R24DA014260 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or the National Institutes of Health. We thank Dr. Fernando Soriano for his comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th, St. SIPA 311, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Maria Aysa-Lastra

  2. Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th, St. SIPA 311, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Patria Rojas, Frank R. Dillon, Rui Duan & Mario De La Rosa

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  1. Maria Aysa-Lastra
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  2. Patria Rojas
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  3. Frank R. Dillon
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Correspondence to Maria Aysa-Lastra.

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Maria Aysa-Lastra, Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies, School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International University, Faculty Fellow at the Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse; Patria Rojas, School of Social Work at Florida International University, Senior Behavioral Health Scientist at the Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse; Frank R. Dillon, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work at Florida International University, Scientific Director of the Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse; Rui Duan, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami; Mario De La Rosa, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work at Florida International University, Director of the Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse.

This study was supported by award number P20MD002288 from the National Institute for Minority and Health Disparities and award R24DA014260 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or the National Institutes of Health. We thank Dr. Fernando Soriano for his comments. Any errors are our own.

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Aysa-Lastra, M., Rojas, P., Dillon, F.R. et al. Family Closeness and Domestic Abuse Among Caribbean and South American Women in South Florida. J Fam Viol 27, 547–559 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-012-9445-1

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