The role of acculturation in wife assault

Existing research has demonstrated that Hispanic Americans as a group exhibit some of the highest rates of violent behavior toward their spouses. Evidence exists, however, that suggests that these rates vary by Hispanic group identification (e.g., Puerto Rican, Mexican, Mexican American, Cuban). One explanation for these ethnic differences suggests that they may be a result of the process of acculturation. It is also possible that variations in rates of wife assault attributed to differences in acculturation level may be caused by differences in measures of this concept. This study used the 1992 National Alcohol and Family Violence Survey, a national sample of 1,970 persons, to examine the role of acculturation in both minor and severe wife assault as well as the impact of using different indicators of acculturation. Generational status was the only measure of acculturation that consistently predicted wife assaults; however, ethnic-group differences remained after controlling for differences in acculturation level.