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Esmeralda Garcia: Supporting Well-being Among Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

SUMMARY OF RESEARCH
Two studies supporting well-being among survivors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) are underway. The first study investigated if attending Personal Empowerment Programs (PEP) and practicing relaxation techniques is associated with greater empowerment and lower levels of stress and depressive symptoms among female survivors of IPV. A unique pattern emerged based on sexual abuse victimization. For the group of women who had not experienced sexual abuse, a longer time in the program was associated with greater levels of empowerment and lower levels of stress and depressive symptoms. That benefit from a longer time in the program was not observed in women who had experienced sexual abuse. Experience with relaxation techniques correlated with greater feelings of empowerment. The findings suggest, overall, PEP is beneficial for IPV survivors. Although, there are pervasive consequences for sexual abuse survivors and they may need additional services. A follow-up study is underway aimed to increase our understanding of the needs of survivors of IPV and services that could help support their well-being.

BIO
Esmeralda Garcia is a doctoral candidate in Psychological Science at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) studying women’s health and racial/ethnic health disparities, including perinatal health and methods of promoting well-being among survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). She is a Ford Foundation Fellow and has earned grants from the University of California Global Health Institute’s Center of Expertise in Women’s Health, Gender, and Empowerment as well as from the UCI Initiative to End Family Violence for her work with survivors of IPV. Through her work, she hopes to help inform services in order to reduce health disparities and help women as they move past their IPV experience.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ESMERALDA
UC Irvine Profile: https://socialecology.uci.edu/students/grad/esmerarg

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