"There Are Many People Who Experience Violence, but They Never Say It:” Perspective on Intimate Partner Violence Among Immigrants In Rural Illinois

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive public health concern, with immigrant populations facing distinct structural, cultural, and social barriers to accessing support. Barriers also exist for survivors of IPV in rural geographies, citing concerns with accessibility (e.g., long travel times to a domestic violence shelter), confidentiality, and availability of services. Although disparities in help-seeking among immigrant and rural survivors are well documented, less is known about how immigration shapes relationship dynamics, conflict resolution, and conceptualizations of IPV among survivors living in rural communities. This qualitative study examines how immigrant men and women in rural Illinois understand IPV and navigate shifting gender roles and support systems.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 20 immigrant adults were conducted between June and November 2024. These interviews were a part of a larger multisite study on mental health service engagement in rural Illinois. Participants were recruited through community-based organizations and places of worship, and interviews were conducted in participants’ preferred languages. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: Help-seeking behaviors reflected a complex interplay of stigma, fear of deportation, and distrust of formal systems, which often limited engagement with IPV-related services. For example, findings indicate that immigration reshapes conflict resolution practices, with participants describing a shift from reactive and authoritarian approaches to more reflective, communicative, and legally informed strategies. For women, parenting emerged as a key site of transformation, as participants sought to disrupt intergenerational patterns of violence. Participants also reported evolving gender roles, with men more often describing increased equity in decision-making.

Conclusions and Implications: The current study illustrated the complexities of help-seeking with IPV-related services among immigrant survivors in rural Illinois. Findings underscore the need for culturally grounded, community-based interventions that address structural barriers while building on existing strengths to improve access to IPV and mental health services among immigrant populations living in rural communities.