Purpose: This study fills a gap regarding the perspectives of Mexican American female adolescents on dating relationships and dating violence (DV).
Methods: This was a qualitative descriptive study. Focus groups included 20 Mexican American young women, primarily first and second generation, mean age 14.5 years (SD= 2.5). Data were analyzed with categorical analysis.
Findings: Participants described key components of DV and identified cultural aspects that may serve to promote healthy dating relationships.
Conclusions: Family-based interventions to promote exploration of gender roles and parent-child communication may foster biculturalism as well as promote healthy dating relationships and prevent violence within this cultural group.
Clinical Relevance: In the United States, 10% to 40% of teens experience DV. Hispanic females experience more physical DV than their White peers.
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/ruth_belknap/6/
Accepted version. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, Vol. 44, No. 3 (September 2012): 215-222. DOI. © 2012 Sigma Theta Tau International. Used with permission.