title: Violent behavior in female inmates: possible predictors.
abstract: Research findings have been equivocal regarding the relationship between experiencing trauma and exhibiting violent behavior in women. This study seeks to determine predictors of violent behavior in female inmates utilizing various conceptualizations of traumatic experiences. Results indicate a significant univariate relationship between experiencing more frequent physical abuse experiences, both interpersonal and noninterpersonal types of trauma, and both physical and sexual assaults with frequency of engagement in violent behavior. The regression model explained approximately 21.0% of the variance in violent behavior. Furthermore, frequency of physical abuse experiences was a significant predictor of frequency of engagement in violent behavior and explained 12.74% of unique variance. These results suggest that the frequency of physical abuse experiences may serve as a risk factor for women's violent behavior. Although more research is needed, it appears that addressing the potential for violence in women who experience abuse may be an appropriate target of treatment.
authors.affiliation: University of Tulsa, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Byrd
authors.forename: Joanne L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D015146:Midwestern United States; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011330:Prisons; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult