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Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 193-200).

Puerto Rican women experience increased risk of bio-psychosocial challenges due to their ethnicity. This phenomenological study examined Puerto Rican HIV-positive women's perceptions of intimate partner violence (IPV), which consists of physical, sexual, verbal, and psychological abuse. Although HIV-positive status and IPV have been a focus of previous research, specific research examining the phenomenological experiences of HIV-positive Puerto Rican women who experienced IPV has not been studied. The basis of the study was feminist intersectionality theory, which supported the process used to explore and understand the essence of the participants' experiences. Feminist intersectionality theory examines intersecting social systems including gender, ethnicity, and cultural influences in assessing the lived experiences of the participants. Purposive sampling was used to recruit six participants. Data collection consisted of in-depth, audio-recorded interviews, and data were analyzed by transcribing interviews to explore common themes. Some of the themes that evolved from the research findings are traumatic experiences, feelings about the abuse, reaction to the abuse, trust issues, cultural influences, and positive life changes. The results of this research study provided valuable information of the participants' lived experiences. This research may provide domestic violence specialists, health care providers, law enforcement providers, public advocates, and government agencies with explanation and understanding of the unique challenges Puerto Rican women face. This research has the potential to impact social change in improving IPV screening, offering bi-lingual and bi-cultural service providers, and educating individuals in the helping profession of the impact of IPV.

This study explored the meaning of social support networks among a self-selected sample (N=31) of migrant Puerto Rican women. Following a combined quantitative and qualitative research design, four areas were investigated: 1. How did the women define their social support networks? 2. How and to what extent were relationships maintained with the support networks left behind in Puerto Rico, (PRSSN)? 3. How were new networks established in Boston, (BSSN)? 4. What impact separation from PRSSN had on stress? Related areas of inquiry were stressed and specific demographic factors were considered. These included, age range of 20 to 40 years; living in Boston for three years or less, and the presence of children. Data was collected, with a demographic instrument designed for this research, based on Hollingshead Four Factor In- dex of Social Status (1975). Instruments to gather data included: Pearson's Personal Support System Survey (P3S, 1979), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Spanish translation (1975), and an open-ended questionnaire developed by this researcher to elicit descriptive information about the participants relationship with their PRSSN and BSSN. The definition of social support network was conceptualized by the migrant Puerto Rican women as people that provide help and encouragement, characterized by reliable relationships based on trust, and reciprocity. Distinctions between emotional and functional support were less clear due to overlap between reported forms of support. The self-selected sample yielded unexpected data uncharacteristic of those reported in the literature. These women had a high level of education, 46.4% had college or graduate degree, and 39% had high school diploma or some years of college. These women were young, 55% were 20 to 29 years old and their family size was small, 65% had 2 or less children. Clinically this group appears to be self-confident, assertive, initiators of change for themselves and their families, and capable of admitting their needs and looking for help through appropriate sources of support. The pursuit of help in no way should be interpreted as a weakness or inability to cope. On the contrary, this group showed unexpected inner resources and self confidence. These findings inform the literature on women's development, corroborating research by Gilligan (1977, 1982) and Miller (1976) about women's connectedness, and its relationship to growth. Further, they provide cultural-specific meaning to the characteristics and functions of support networks. They may also describe an emerging population of Puerto Rican migrant women. Implications for Counseling Psychology indicate educational approaches for interveining on behalf of migrant Puerto Rican women, i.e. providing language proficiency and other information needed to effectively deal with the dominant culture. These data, also recommend working from a strength versus deficit perspective.

This study investigated the body image constructions of Afro-Latinx Caribbean women who identify as Domincan, Puetro-Rican, and/or Cuban. Fifteen women participated in the research study aiming to investigate how race, gender, culture and the intersection of the three influences the conceptualization of body image for this specific population of women. A mixed methodology approach was implemented. The primary research method was analysis of qualitative data via CQR. Interviews were accompanied by four quantitative measures in order to further inform the qualitative data. The measures specifically investigated cultural values (Marianismo Belief Scale), racial identity (Multidimensional Model of Black Identity), acculturation (Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale), and body image satisfaction (Stunkard Figure Rating Scale). The scales informed the data by providing information about the participant’s adherence to traditional cultural values and its intersection with gender (marianismo), the salience of their racial identity, the degree to acculturation, and ideal body image. Four domains emerged from the data, which shed light on the conceptualization and experience of body image for this group of women. The results have implications for the multicultural awareness for counselors working with Afro-Latinx Caribbean women, in addition to the psychological awareness of this group within the psychological body image research, and the many gaps which continue to need exploration.

Intimate partner violence [IPV] is a preventable and costly societal issue that has reached epidemic proportions. Women are often the victims of IPV, and millions of children are exposed to it annually. The purpose of this study was to explore experiences of Puerto Rican mothers and their perceptions of how IPV exposure may have impacted their children using resilience theory. Data were collected via audiotaped individual interviews with 9 Puerto Rican mothers who endured an array of escalating IPV, often exacerbated by the perpetrators use of alcohol or drugs, and had IPV-exposed children aged 6 -11 years. Data analysis integrated content and thematic procedures. Interview data was transcribed, read, audited and coded based on compelling statements, quotes, and sentences made by the participants. The coded clusters were further evaluated, reduced to significant statements, then grouped into themes that captured the essence of the participants lived experiences and of the group. The mothers separated because they feared for their lives and the effect of IPV on the children. Once separated the mothers felt isolated, lived in shelters which were unconducive to childrearing, and had challenges navigating the system. They perceived their IPV-exposed children exhibited a multitude of behaviors including PTSD but that most were showing signs of resilience. Their IPV was perpetrated by males who were mostly the biological fathers of their children who used controlling behaviors towards the kids. The potential positive social change impact of this study is to empower Puerto Rican mothers to disclose IPV and to better inform health care providers regarding the impact of IPV on children aged 6 -11 years in an effort to increase the health, well-being, and resiliency of this vulnerable population.

Thesis (M.A.) -- Central Connecticut State University, 2009. / Thesis advisor: Antonio García-Lozada. "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Spanish Language and Hispanic Cultures." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 191-201). Abstract available via the World Wide Web.