SELF-CONCEPT PROFILE OF ABUSED WOMEN: A RURAL AND CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE (WOMEN VICTIMS).
Contributors: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 274
Subjects: Women's Studies.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to develop a self-concept profile for rural Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white women who had been physically, sexually or psychologically abused. Additionally, this study proposed to describe the effect of assimilation on self-concept and abuse in a rural, minority population of Mexican-American women.

Ethnic language translations were developed to enable investigation with a rural, Spanish-speaking, Mexican-American population. Reassessment of reliability and validity of both English and Spanish translations of instrumentation for a rural population was performed (n = 247). The effect of Spanish language translation on responses of Mexican-Americans was measured through comparisons of Spanish and English versions.

Data were collected through convenience sampling from both rural battered women's shelters and rural community service centers. Significant differences were found between groups of abused (n = 117) versus non-abused (n = 105) women on dimensions of self-concept. Effects of type of abuse (physical, sexual, psychological) on self-concept were identified. Those experiencing sexual abuse versus other forms of abuse were found to have comparatively lower perceptions of competency on all dimensions.

Ethnic differences between groups of abused women were found with the main effect either ethnicity or experience of abuse. Mexican-American women, abused versus non-abused, reported significant differences in self-concept. A self-concept difference was found between Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white abused women.

Assimilation variables found to be significantly correlated with self-concept for abused and non-abused Mexican-American women, included language, attitudes toward traditional family structure and values. Significant differences were found between abused and non-abused Mexican-American women in attitudes toward traditional family structure and sex-role identification. Differences by assimilation level, high versus low, were found for abused Mexican-American women on dimensions of self-concept.

The majority of abused women, (75%) of Mexican-American women and (56%) of non-Hispanic white women reported spousal abuse. Other experiences of abuse reported included parental, spouse and other, relative, and stranger. Significant differences were found on self-concept between groups experiencing spousal versus parental abuse.

Comparisons between abused women at rural shelters versus abused women identified within the communities were made. Sheltered women had significantly lower perceptions of self-competence.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-06, Section: A, page: 1713.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT SAN ANTONIO, 1994.

School code: 0853.