The Mental Health of Migrant Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in Valencia, Spain.

ended

In 2018, over 550,000 foreign migrants were documented as entering Spain. Migrant women are often at increased risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) due to factors such as financial insecurity, a lack of social support and discrimination. A higher prevalence of IPV has been shown among migrant women than native Spanish women and migrants are also at increased risk of depression, anxiety and somatic disorders. The impacts of IPV on women's mental health is well documented, however little is known about the differential effects of IPV on the mental health of women across migrant groups. Migrants living in Spain come from a diverse range of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds, therefore understanding how women from different backgrounds narrate their experiences of violence and its impacts on their physical and mental health is vital for producing culturally sensitive interventions and care. Migrant groups often face barriers to accessing services and care in their host country due to language barriers, a lack of awareness about available services or previous experiences of discrimination. Cultural competency in a healthcare system is therefore important to ensuring migrant survivors of IPV have access to the appropriate care, particularly for their mental health. The aim of the current proposal is to explore the differential effects of violence on the mental health of women across migrant groups living in Valencia, Spain, using a mixed-methods study with three main areas of focus: the associations between IPV and symptoms of common mental disorders, the differential narratives of violence and mental health experiences among women from different migrant groups and the barriers to accessing mental health care. The proposed research will be conducted with a view to developing a culturally informed intervention to address violence against women in migrant groups and to provide policy recommendations to improve mental health care for migrants living in Spain