Table 1.
Study Characteristics and Relevant Findings.
| Citation | Method | Sample | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anyikwa (2015) | Quantitative | 110 Black w, ages 18–66; 93% AA | FORMAL: (1) mostly police, less shelter, and EDs; (2) 1/3 did not engage police due to fear of how men would be treated |
| Bent-Goodley & Fowler (2006) | Qualitative | 19 AA faith-based leaders and congregants; 13 women and six men | (1) Religion/biblical principles used to keep women in abusive relationships, (2) sexism/sex-role perceptions a barrier, and (3) clergy needs to understand how abuse impacts women’s spirituality |
| Cheng &Lo (2015) | Quantitative | 6,589 w who completed the NVAWS; nationally rep. sample, include AA women | (1) Least likely to seek help from MH professionals; (2) severe controlling behaviors, severe forced sex, or frequent physical assault increased MH help seeking; (3) access to free svcs increased likelihood of utilization |
| Davies et al. (2007) | Quantitative | 500 w (69% AA; 21% Latina) | (1) Severity of violence the strongest predictor of police contact; (2) weapon use, threat, or attempted murder was the most serious incident, 69% of w had police contact; and (3) higher the women’s informal acceptance and support > likelihood of police contact |
| Deutsch et al. (2017) | Qualitative | 31 Participants (83% White; 17% AA, Latina) | AA women felt providers would neither believe them nor care about their legal outcomes; anticipated abuse from providers rather than safety; the least likely to follow through with legal proceedings |
| Dichter & Rhodes (2011) | Quantitative | 173 IPV victims; 79% AA women | (1) 97.6% used medical care, (2) 62.6% used general MH and said this helped them feel safer, and (3) 71.4% said that they were interested in MH |
| El-Khoury et al. (2004) | Quantitative | 376 women; 86% AA women | (1)Black w use prayer & White w MHC, (2) Black w found prayer > helpful than White, and (3) no ethnic differences in the utilization of clergy or medical professionals (clergy may be considered a “public” resource) |
| Few (2005) | Qualitative | 30 abused w; 10 AA/Black | (1) Only five women knew shelter existed, (2) most White women said the police recommended the shelter, (3) ashamed to engage police for help, (4) police told men to walk away or were later released, and (5) religious w had more difficulty leaving |
| Frasier (2006) | Quantitative | 193 women (75% AA) | Survivors believe in rape myth acceptance; the more likely a survivor ascribes to rape myth acceptance, the least likely to disclose victimization |
| Fugate et al. (2005) | Qualitative | 491 Abused women, 69% African, AA, Black | (1) 82% of the abused women did not contact an agency or counselor, (2) 74% of the women did not seek medical care, (3) 62% did not call the police, and (4) 29% did not talk to someone else, such as family and friends |
| Gillum (2009) | Qualitative | 14 AA w IPV survivors | Mainstream: (1) unwelcoming, unsupportive, (2) insensitive, and (3) barriers to adequate assistance; Culturally specific: (1) welcoming, (2) sensitive to leaving process, (3) more fully assist, and (4) supportive environment |
| Gillum (2008) | Qualitative | 13 AA w IPV survivors | (1) w dissatisfied w DV shelter programs, (2) lack of assistance, (3) harsher treatment, (4) racism exists within the legal system, and (5) lack of resources |
| Hamberger et al. (2007) | Quantitative | 132 w IPV victims obtaining services from a battered women’s program (39% AA; 51% White) | (1) AA w are more likely to access an emergency or urgent care; (2) all want physicians to provide gentle, competent physical exams and not victim-blame; (3) AA w want culturally competent treatment |
| Lucea et al. (2013) | Quantitative | 545 w of African descent (AA and Afro Caribbean) | (1) Only 57% seeking any help; (2) Of that, 13% sought medical; B-18% DV, C-37% community, and D-41% criminal justice resources. (2) Those who were employed were less likely to utilize health care resources; (3) w who did not access resources were unaware of them. |
| Nash & Hesterberg (2009) | Qualitative | Three abused religious women | (1) Biblical characters who suffered were drawn upon for encouragement, (2) religious coping doesn’t mean not doing anything, and (3) concerns abt race-class-gender oppression |
| Nicolaidis et al. (2010) | Qualitative | 31 AA women; four focus groups | (1) Intergenerational messages to avoid health care, (2) mistrust of the health care system as a “White” system, (3) negative experiences with health care attributed to racism, (4) expectation to be a “Strong Black Woman” acts as a barrier, (5) negative attitudes toward antidepressants, and (6) preferences for self-care |
| Nnawulezi & Sullivan (2013) | Qualitative | 14 Black/AA women | (1) Lack of culturally specific hair products, foods, and a homogeneous staff composition; (2) experienced microinsults, microassaults, and microinvalidations; and (3) there’s a belief that we are undeserving clients |
| Paranjape et al. (2007) | Qualitative | 30 AA women over 50 years old | (1) Spiritual sources were cited over physicians as being available to help FV survivors and (2) barriers to receiving assistance included negative encounters with physicians, lack of trust in the system, and dearth of age-appropriate resources |
| Potter (2007) | Qualitative | 40 Battered Black/AA women | (1) Vast majority of the w relied on their spirituality to help them get through and get out of the abusive relationships |
| Sabri et al. (2013) | Quantitative | 354 Black women (276 AA; 78 Afro Caribbean) | (1) 66% did not use MH resources; (2) more severe IPV, more severe MH problems (AA w with severe phys and psych abuse experiences, and high risk for lethality were significantly likely to have co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder and depression problems) |
| J. Y. Taylor (2005) | Qualitative | 21 AA w who experienced DV | (1) Negotiating shelter and navigating nebulous environments; (2) encountering racism, work, and the brick ceiling; and (3) cultivating and maintaining a strong back against racism |
Note. AA = African American. IPV = intimate partner violence. MH = mental health. DV = domestic violence. ED = emergency department.