Abstract
The literature has shown an increased risk for mental health conditions among victims of domestic violence. Few studies have examined the relationship between mental health disorders and domestic violence among Caribbean women, and how the association might be influenced by migratory and contextual factors. This study addresses the mental well-being of U.S. Caribbean Black women victims of domestic violence, and the relationships between acculturation, discrimination, and demographic influences. An analysis of data from the 2001–2003 National Survey of American Life (NSAL) re-interview, the first and most complete study on U.S. Caribbean Blacks, was conducted. Bivariate analysis revealed an association between acts of physical domestic violence and mental health conditions, with generally higher risk among women who reported both severe physical intimate partner violence and childhood physical abuse. Multivariate logistic regression indicates an association between specific mental disorders and acts of domestic violence. Acculturation, length of residence in the United States, age, education, poverty, and country of origin were also associated with mental health. The study highlights future directions for exploration including additional investigation of the influence of acculturation on the physical health of victims of domestic violence.
Highlights
The Black immigrant population has increased steadily since 1980 and is estimated to be about 9% of the Black population [1,2], with the majority being traditionally women [3].Black women comprise 52% of the growing U.S Black population and a high proportion of this group identifies as Sub-Saharan African or Caribbean [4]
This study examined the association between mental health conditions and acts of domestic violence among U.S Caribbean women
We further evaluated the interrelationship of specific acts of domestic violence, migratory factors, and contextual influences on mental health conditions
Summary
The Black immigrant population has increased steadily since 1980 and is estimated to be about 9% of the Black population [1,2], with the majority being traditionally women [3].Black women comprise 52% of the growing U.S Black population and a high proportion of this group identifies as Sub-Saharan African or Caribbean [4]. Studies continue to find that Black and immigrant women are at greater risk for victimization [5,6], and the associated mental health risks are just as alarming [7]. One report estimates that half of the women in some Caribbean countries have reported violence by an intimate partner over the course of their lives [8]. Domestic violence across the life course in the form of adult physical intimate partner violence and childhood physical abuse is a serious and pervasive public health problem within minority and immigrant communities [10,11]. Studies over the years have documented the association between adult intimate partner violence and a wide variety of mental health problems such as mood, anxiety, depression, and substance disorders [13,14]. Studies have found an association between childhood abuse and mental health among adult women [15]. Little is known about the influence of childhood abuse on the well-being of immigrant Caribbean women
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