Mexican Immigrant Women Searching for a Solution to Intimate Partner Abuse: Common Breaking Points and Type of Help Needed

Abstract

This phenomenological grounded theory study, with a sample 29 Mexican immigrant women affected by intimate abuse and secondary sample of 15 service providers, examines the breaking point for help seeking and the type of help needed. Harm to children, infidelity, and threat to the participant's life were the most common breaking points. Some didn't know what type of help was needed, only that they could not solve the problem on their own. Other types included protection (physical and legal) from the abusive partner and economic assistance. The findings have implications for attorneys, domestic violence programs, mental health and social service programs, police, and health care workers.

KEYWORDS:

• Intimate partner violence
• Mexican immigrant women
• help seeking