They Kill People Over Nothing”

An Exploratory Study of Latina Immigrant Trauma

Bibliographic Data

ID11215435
AuthorsCarol Cleaveland (George Mason University), Carol L Cleaveland (0000-0002-6544-4062, George Mason University, corresponding author), Cara L Frankenfeld (0000-0002-2318-0791, George Mason University), Cara Frankenfeld (George Mason University)
Year2020
Volume46
Issue4
Pages507-523
Publication date2020-07-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social Service Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0148-8376 • E-ISSN: 1540-7314
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01488376.2019.1602100
OpenAlexW2940944508
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited49

This article presents findings from an exploratory, mixed methods study to: (1) Ascertain whether Latina immigrant clients of a healthcare clinic for uninsured patients suffer a higher rate of PTSD compared to the citizen population at large and (2) Explore whether factors unique to immigrants, such as surviving human smuggling, would predict PTSD. Two validated instruments were deployed with clients who agreed to be screened (n = 62). Ten percent of U.S. women are expected to develop PTSD in a lifetime, a total tripled by immigrant women in this study. Women who scored high on the PTSD CheckList for Civilians (PCL-C) reported victimization from sexual assault, robberies and loss of friend/family member to violence, though no single assault predicted PTSD. Qualitative data, however, revealed that violence in countries of origin influenced decisions to immigrate. Among the avenues for future research identified by this study are (1) exploration of methods for linking Latina immigrants to mental health services, (2) determining the effects of smuggling violence on immigrants, and (3) Evaluate additive effects of multiple traumas

Checklist · Domestic violence · Environmental health · Exploratory research · Immigration · Medical emergency · Mental health · Poison control · Political science · Population · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Sociology · Suicide prevention · Child Abuse and Trauma · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology