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New Case Study Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): Aspects of Seeking Advice and Help Among Jamaican Immigrant Women in the United States

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Handbook of Anger, Aggression, and Violence

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Abstract

This paper examined cultural beliefs related to formal help-seeking among Jamaican immigrant women living in the United States who reported previous experiences with intimate partner violence (IPV). In-depth interviews with 11 women revealed a preference for informal help-seeking from friends and family members over seeking help from police or health service professionals. Women’s help-seeking decisions were informed by cultural norms that prioritized collectivism, traditional gender role ideologies, normative secrecy, and spiritual problem solving. The data supports the importance of considering cultural belief systems in IPV research and practice that involves Jamaican, as well as other groups of Black women.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Denison University, Granville, OH, USA

    Karen Powell Sears

Authors
  1. Karen Powell Sears
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Correspondence to Karen Powell Sears .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Clinical and Applied Health Research, University of Hull, Hull, UK

    Colin Martin

  2. King's College London, London, UK

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. University of Westminster, London, UK

    Vinood B. Patel

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Powell Sears, K. (2023). New Case Study Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): Aspects of Seeking Advice and Help Among Jamaican Immigrant Women in the United States. In: Martin, C., Preedy, V.R., Patel, V.B. (eds) Handbook of Anger, Aggression, and Violence. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98711-4_162-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98711-4_162-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-98711-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-98711-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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