Developing insight into multiple struggles with violence: Narratives of Latino adolescent parents

This article illustrates a process of dual discovery by young high-risk Latino parents and by researchers. The findings of this study highlight a developmental process whereby through self-reflection and increasing insight into the multiple forms of violence that they struggle with on a routine basis, these young Latino parents begin to make changes in their lives. As we conducted a series of qualitative studies on health risk behaviors, beginning with a focus on HIV prevention, the participants led us to recognize and focus on the extraordinary significance and pervasiveness of the multiple forms of violence in their lives. Because young Latino parents naturally develop insight and make appropriate changes in their lives, they are excellent candidates for health promotion programs, including HIV risk reduction programs; however, the programs must address issues of multiple forms of violence.