Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Women suffer from higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) than men in Canada; the rates of IPV are higher among Black women. Racialized women are at an increased risk of poverty because of the multiple barriers they face and women who encounter the coexisting conditions of poverty and IPV are more likely to develop mental illnesses. However, a research gap exists surrounding the mental well-being of Black women living in poverty in Ontario who are at risk of IPV. We aim to understand the impact of poverty and IPV on the mental well-being of Black women in Ontario, and to analyze how the social positions of Black women influence violence in their intimate relationship, as well as their access to receiving supports across sectors. The research is guided by the following questions: 1) How do Black women who live in poverty and at risk of IPV describe their mental well-being? 2) Do the social positions-specifically gender, race, and class-of Black women with no fixed address in Ontario, influence the prevalence of experiencing intimate partner violence in their relationships? 3) Do the social positions of Black women influence the way in which they receive health/ social/ legal services support from across sectors? Conducting research within this area will support stakeholders in identifying the needs that are most salient to Black women exposed to poverty and IPV and struggling with mental health issues. Mental health services may be improved by ensuring that health professionals receive cultural competency and anti-oppression training to understand the factors that may contribute to poor mental health in Black communities. Findings will aid in the development of nursing interventions that seek to inform practice, policy and inform future research. Increasing access to IPV intervention services, prevention programs, and mental health services will be prioritized, thereby improving the mental health prospects of women who are disproportionately at risk.