The Impact of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Ethnic Discrimination, and Nativity on Nicotine Dependence among Female Hispanic Survivors of Physical Intimate Partner Violence

Background: Nicotine dependence (ND) is an understudied public health problem among Hispanic women experiencing physical intimate partner violence (PIPV). Despite multiple calls for such studies, little is known about the associations of PTSD, ethnic discrimination, and nativity with ND among female Hispanic survivors of PIPV. Objectives: This study aimed to do the following: 1) replicate the PTSD-ND association in a sample of female Hispanic survivors of PIPV, and 2) examine the impact of ethnic discrimination and nativity on ND among 378 female Hispanic survivors of PIPV. We hypothesized that past-year PTSD and ethnic discrimination would be associated with greater odds of past-year ND (PY-ND) and being born outside the U.S. would be associated with lower odds of PY-ND. Data was used from 378 participants in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions Wave 2 who were female, Hispanic, and experienced PIPV. Logistic regression was used to test the impacts of past-year PTSD, ethnic discrimination and nativity on PY-ND while controlling for past-year major depressive episode, age, and personal income. Results: Results supported our hypotheses. Specifically, past-year PTSD was associated with greater odds of PY-ND, AOR = 1.91, 95% CI [1.43–2.56], and past-year ethnic discrimination was associated with greater odds of PY-ND, AOR = 2.31, 95% CI [1.82–2.93], whereas being born outside the U.S. was associated with lower odds of PY-ND, AOR = 0.33, 95% CI [0.26–0.41]. Conclusions: Findings suggest the need for additional studies to understand how ethnic discrimination and nativity affect ND among Hispanic female survivors of PIPV.