Associations Between Sexual Trauma and Sexual Relationship Power Among Latina Immigrant Farmworkers: The Moderating Role of Gender Norms

Abstract

Sexual trauma is a national public health concern due to the alarming rates at which it occurs and decades of research supporting its long-term deleterious effects on health outcomes. We assessed the impact of gender norms and sexual trauma on power within sexual relationships among Latina immigrant farmworkers. At baseline, participants (N = 175) completed a survey examining demographic information, sexual trauma history, and gender norms; a follow-up was administered 6 months later. Past sexual trauma was associated with less power in sexual relationships, r = -.25, p < .001, as was endorsement of traditional Latina gender norms (i.e., marianismo): sexual relationship control, r = -.38, p < .001; sexual decision-making dominance, r = -.21, p = .005. In contrast, egalitarian gender norm endorsement was associated with higher levels of sexual relationship control, r = .37, p < .001, and sexual decision-making dominance, r = .17, p = .023. Gender norms moderated the association between sexual trauma and sexual relationship power. Specifically, women who subscribed more to marianismo and reported sexual trauma had less decision-making dominance in sexual relationships, whereas those with lower ratings of marianismo reported higher levels of decision-making dominance despite sexual trauma, R² = .03, p = .022. Sexual trauma history coupled with higher ratings of egalitarian gender norms was associated with higher levels of sexual relationship control, DR² = .02, p = .023. These results highlight the importance of culturally informed research to increase the sexual and overall health of vulnerable populations (e.g., Latina immigrant farmworkers).

Figure 1.. Moderation of the Effect of Marianismo (Panel A) and Egalitarian Gender Norms (Panel B) on the Association Between Sexual Trauma and Sexual Relationship Power

Note. Marianismo is a continuous variable. Significant interactions were probed using the Johnson–Neyman technique within the SAS PROCESS macro. Regions of significance are indicated by shaded areas of the plots, signaling where regression lines significantly differ from one another.

Figure 1.. Moderation of the Effect of Marianismo (Panel A) and Egalitarian Gender Norms (Panel B) on the Association Between Sexual Trauma and Sexual Relationship Power

Note. Marianismo is a continuous variable. Significant interactions were probed using the Johnson–Neyman technique within the SAS PROCESS macro. Regions of significance are indicated by shaded areas of the plots, signaling where regression lines significantly differ from one another.