Life histories of rural Mexican American adolescents experiencing abuse

Histories of family violence are predictors of adolescent acceptance of int erpersonal violence within intimate relationships. This study focused on th e progression of abusive relationships from childhood to courtship and inti macy among 40 rural Mexican American adolescents in the southwestern United States. Emphasis was on interactions that were extensions of cultural expe ctations for intimacy, family, and sex roles. Within these life histories, transgenerational patterns of violence were found in patterns of learning, loving and belonging through past and present relationships. Sex-role ident ification with abusive behavior occurred across generations, emulating role s from the past and perpetuating expectations for abuse as part of intimacy . Previous abusive experiences were described as motivation for behavioral change, yet, within the patterns of learning, loving, and belonging in rela tionships, patterns of abuse and behaviors similar to the family of origin were found An understanding of the influential role attitudes and expectati ons of abused individuals and their families has on behavior is relevant fo r interventions preventing existent and future abuse.