@article{ref1,
title="Victimization, psychological distress, and help-seeking: Disentangling the relationship for Latina victims",
journal="Psychology of violence",
year="2014",
author="Cuevas, Carlos A. and Bell, Kristin A. and Sabina, Chiara",
volume="4",
number="2",
pages="196-209",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the role of help-seeking on the victimization-psychological distress link. Specifically, we aim to determine whether help-seeking is associated with various forms of psychological distress among victims of interpersonal violence. <br><br>METHOD: This study used data from the Sexual Assault Among Latinas (SALAS) Study, which surveyed 2,000 Latino women using random digit dial methodology, and queried participants about lifetime victimization, help-seeking behaviors associated with victimization, and psychological distress. Using linear regression with a subsample of the women who experienced victimization in adulthood (N = 242), we evaluated the association of victimization, cultural variables, formal help-seeking, and informal help-seeking on psychological distress. Subsequently, we also evaluated the relationship of each specific form of help-seeking on current psychological distress. <br><br>RESULTS: Results suggest that formal help-seeking but not informal help-seeking was associated with lower psychological distress among Latino women. Specifically, formal help-seeking was associated with decreased levels of current depression, anger, dissociation, and anxiety. When looking at specific forms of formal help-seeking, reporting to police was the main form of help-seeking associated with decreased levels of current psychological distress. Interaction effects also showed the victimization--anger relationship was stronger for those with higher Latino orientation that were neither of Mexican nor Cuban descent. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The results support the importance of promoting formal help-seeking behaviors, particularly police reporting, as a way of decreasing the negative psychological impact of victimization. Among Latinas, cultural factors and ethnicity need to be taken into consideration to better understand help-seeking behaviors and emotional functioning.<p />",
language="en",
issn="2152-0828",
doi="10.1037/a0035819",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0035819"
}