Protective Factors for Multiple Forms of Interpersonal Violence Experienced by Adolescent Latinas

Interpersonal violence during adolescence is associated with a variety of detrimental physical and mental health outcomes. Cross-sectional data from Latinas (n = 1,087) attending 19 high schools in Colorado during the 2017-2018 school year were analyzed to capture protective factors associated with interpersonal violence victimization. The purpose of the present study is to inform the literature on the potential protective factors for multiple forms of victimization experienced by adolescent Latinas. A series of multiple regression models were conducted for the outcomes of peer victimization, dating violence victimization, sexual violence victimization, and polyvictimization. Specifically, the eight protective factors included family support, positive friends, generosity, trusted adults, healthy activities, spirituality, access to counseling, and access to medical services. Results indicated that family support, access to counseling, access to medical services, and healthy activities were each negatively associated with various forms of interpersonal victimization. However, other "protective factors" like generosity and trusted adults were positively associated with other forms of interpersonal victimization. As the Latinx community continues to grow in the United States, it is imperative that interpersonal violence prevention approaches center the experiences of adolescent Latinas.