| This study explored the effects of family of origin violence (FOV), acculturation, familism, and attitudes toward Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) on the occurrence of IPV among college Latinas. Participants ( N = 255) were Latina students at a four-year university and were at least 18 years of age. It was hypothesized that IPV prevalence would be significantly influenced by FOV, acculturation, familism, and attitudes toward IPV and that attitudes toward IPV would be positively correlated with FOV, acculturation, and familism. Further, it was hypothesized that attitudes toward IPV would mediate the following relationships: between FOV and IPV, acculturation and IPV, and familism and IPV. Results revealed that FOV, acculturation, familism, and attitudes toward violence each individually influence the likelihood of IPV. Acculturation influenced attitudes toward IPV; FOV and familism, however, did not significantly influence attitudes toward IPV. Attitudes toward IPV, mediated the relationship between acculturation and IPV, and between familism and IPV but not between FOV and IPV. FOV was the strongest predictor of IPV. The results of this study will inform IPV prevention and intervention programs on college campuses targeted specifically to Latinas. |
