LATINA/O PSYCHOLOGY TODAY VOL 2 – ISSUE 1 © THE AUTHOR(S), 2015 23 LATINA/O PSYCHOLOGY TODAY VOL 2 – ISSUE 1 © THE AUTHOR(S), 2015 EXPERIENCES OF PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AMONG LATINA SEXUAL MINORITIES: A BRIEF REPORT JENNIE THAI 1, 3 ALICIA K. MATTHEWS, PH.D. 1, 2 FRANCES ARANDA, PH.D. 1, 2 Over 53 million (44.6%) of all women in the United States (U.S.) have experienced interpersonal violence (physical and/or sexual) in their lifetime, with over a third (37.1%) identifying as Latinas (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2011). Sexual orientation has been identified as an important but under-researched risk factor for victimization among women. Compared to heterosexual women, sexual minority women (SMW: women who identify as lesbian, bisexual, or non-heterosexual) generally report elevated rates of trauma, including stressful childhood experiences such as physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect and differential rates of physical and sexual assault in adulthood (Austin et al., 2008; Balsam, Rothblum, & Beauchaine, 2005; Friedman et al., 2011; Lehavot, Molina, & Simoni, 2012; Moracco, Runyan, Bowling, & Earp, 2007; Saewyc et al., 2006; Schneeberger, Dietl, Muenzenmaier, Huber, & Lang, 2014; Stoddard, Dibble, & Fineman, 2009). Experiences of victimization and violence have been linked to poor mental and physical health outcomes in both heterosexual and sexual minority populations (Balsam, Lehavot, Beadnell, & Circo, 2010). Among SMW specifically, experiences of victimization have been linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicide ideation (Austin, Roberts, Corliss, & Molnar, 2008), obesity (Smith et al., 2010), and hazardous levels of alcohol and other substance use (Drabble, Trocki, Hughes, Korcha, & Lown, 2013; Hughes, Johnson, & Wilsnack, 2001; Hughes, Johnson, Wilsnack, & Szalacha, 2007; Hughes, McCabe, Wilsnack, West, & Boyd, 2009; Matthews, Cho, Hughes, Johnson, & Alvy, 2013). Among women in general, reporting experiences of victimization to law enforcement and/or seeking medical or mental health services following a victimization experience are generally low (National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs [NCAVP], 2014; Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). To date, only a single study has examined reporting and help- seeking behaviors among SMW after experiences of violence. Similar to the extant literature, Bernhard (2000) found that reporting and help-seeking rates were low among non-Latina White SMW compared to White heterosexual women; the most frequent responses to violence were to tell someone they trust, to take no action, and avoid the perpetrator. Latina SMW may be even less likely to engage in reporting and help-seeking behaviors due to a range of cultural, access, and language barriers, thus representing a population at elevated risk for poor mental and physical health outcomes following victimization experiences. 1. Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago, IL 2. College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, 3. Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Jennie Thai Howard Brown Health Center 3837 N Broadway St, 2 nd Floor Chicago IL 60613 Email: jenniet@howardbrown.org