Domestic violence has become a global menace, experienced in different degrees, mostly by women. Women experience numerous forms of violence over their lives, specifically, Latino American women are majorly impacted by domestic violence which leads to mental health problems such as severe depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Domestic violence which is commonly known as intimate partner violence (IPV) refers to any type of abuse or assault either perpetuated mentally, physically and sexually or any other form of aggression in homesteads (Judy & Sarah, 2014) . Latino women perceive a strong connection between domestic violence and depression, a relationship which is further strengthened by other state of living such as migration, childhood abuse and war trauma (Ahrens, 2014) . Therefore, domestic violence is met among other social and traumatic hardship which increases the level of depression among the Latino women.
Domestic violence experiences among Latino women have a long thread in the history America. Various reports indicate that every Latino woman, at one point in their life experiences domestic violence. The claims and experiences includes rape and physical assaults. Further, the most recurrent form of domestic torture is psychological and verbal abuse which is perpetuated in the form of lashing of abuses, insults, name calling and false unjustified accusations (Michael & Mary, 2015) . These causes feelings of being worthless, bad mothers and bad wives among the Latino women. Also, some reports show that a large percentage of Latino women undergo multiple hospitalization as a result of injuries and beatings that they receive from their partners (Shireen & Elisha, 2015) .
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Domestic violence among Latino women is a growing concern for the world and it is important to recognize it’s perceived causes. Among the frequent causes is economic hardship which leaves husbands stressed and frustrated when trying to battle through the hardship and be good family providers (Paula & Brenda, 2014) . When opportunities of work don’t show up marred with low paying jobs and drug and substance abuse, they resort to assaulting their partners as way of removing the frustration. More often, drug and alcohol abuse is the major driver of domestic violence among the Latino community. The issue of gender beliefs is another major driver for increased domestic violence. The cultural belief of considering males as masculine and aggressive while women being perceived as passive in relationships, creates social patterns which leaves women as the vulnerable gender (Shireen & Elisha, 2015) . This implies that, females culturally are subject to males which makes gender socialization as the strongest link to domestic violence. Inasmuch as Latino women are abused in relationships, they are reluctant to leave their marriages because of the gender beliefs.
Depression is the major effect experienced by Latino women a result of domestic violence. It has been realized that most of the Latino women have developed psychotherapy and psychiatric complications with long terms serious problems which lowers their enjoyment and inability to realize a happy life (Michael & Mary, 2015) . Also, there is a strong connection between depression and mental health problems. The constant abuses and beatings leads to low self-esteem and perception of worthlessness coupled with other feelings of stress, anxiety and fear. They experience disrupted cases of sleep patterns and persistent sadness (Judy & Sarah, 2014) . However, it is important to note that, depression in Latino women is not entirely caused by domestic violence alone, but also is a function of other life experiences. Some of the problems that leads to depression other than domestic violence includes unemployment, social isolation, inability to speak good English, migration, sexual abuses at childhood and war traumas (Shireen & Elisha, 2015) .
The Latino women have tolerated for a long time the experiences of domestic violence alongside associated mental health and depression problems. they have constantly been abused by their partners and due to the feeling of shame and fear, they have not stepped up to put to halt such societal injustice. It is engrained in them that they have to endure particularly due to gender socialization beliefs. It is detrimental for relevant bodies to step in and suggest better understanding on how to properly address the problem.
References
Ahrens, C. E. (2014). Being silenced: The impact of negative social reactions on the disclosure of rape. American Journal of community psychology , 263-274.
Judy, L. P., & Sarah, M. (2014). Exploring the challenges faced by Latinas experiencing intimate partner violence. Journal of women and social work , 462-477.
Michael, R. A., & Mary, S. V. (2015, February 12). Intimate partner violence, depression, and PTSD among pregnant Latina Women. Retrieved from Annals of family medicine: www.annfammed.org
Paula, G., & Brenda, T. (2014). Intimate partner violence and depression among American women in Toronto. Journal of immigrant minority health , 1771-1784.
Shireen, S. R., & Elisha, N. (2015). Women's voices: Latinas, intimate partner violence immigration policy. Journal of social sciences , 1-41.
