Race and domestic violence: A comparative study of African American, Latina, and white women

Abstract

This exploratory study used standardized interview surveys to examine the differences in demographic characteristics, social support networks, marital power, and abusive experiences among White, African American, and Latinas/Hispanic women who sought assistance from a local shelter (N=41 ). The main research objective was to examine racial differences in the experiences of and responses to intimate relationship violence. Findings derived from ANOVA and a discriminant function analysis identified a set of
two variables that characterized the group differences: help from friends and the number of times in the shelter. However, there were no statistically significant differences in demographic variables, marital power, and abusive behaviors among the three groups. White women were most likely to seek help from friends and use shelters among these three groups. Research implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.