A gender-based incidence study of workplace violence in psychiatric and forensic settings.
Limited data exist analyzing the role of gender in workplace violence in health care settings. This study examined whether different types of threatening incidents with patients (physical, verbal, sexual, or posturing) were salient to male versus female staff across psychiatric settings (inpatient forensic, inpatient acute/chronic psychiatric, and outpatient psychiatric). Results indicated that although women disproportionately experienced sexualized threats, they were not more likely to report such incidents as salient and threatening. The study also assessed the extent to which situational variables contributed to staff's feelings of threat. Results showed that rapport with the patient, quality of relationships with coworkers, and presence of coworkers in the area were not significantly related to how threatened staff felt in a recent threatening incident. Findings are discussed within the context of staff training and organizational benefits.
Hatch-Maillette
Mary A
MA
University of Washington Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, Seattle 98105, USA. hatchm@u.washington.edu
Scalora
Mario J
MJ
Bader
Shannon M
SM
Bornstein
Brian H
BH
D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D011594:Psychometrics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology