Exploring intimate partner violence in women of color through a scoping review of qualitative evidence synthesis

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health concern, disproportionately affecting women of color (WOC), including Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latina, and immigrant women. By performing a synthesis of qualitative research, the researchers identified five key themes shaping WOC’s experiences of IPV: patriarchy and traditional gender norms, systemic racism and xenophobia, lack of cultural inclusion and safety, social needs, and healing through culture, spirituality, and community. Our findings suggest developing clinical models to meet the needs of this diverse population by addressing both the cultural and systemic factors that contribute to their experiences of IPV. Clinical practice can adapt to these challenges by fostering inclusivity and cultural competence to better support WOC victim-survivors of IPV, mitigate the harmful impacts of IPV, and promote pathways for healing. Future researchers must focus on developing culturally sensitive models that consider cultural background and reflect the complexity of IPV experiences for WOC.