Sex differences and violence on the wards

Although there is a large body of research into what causes aggression among psychiatric inpatients there is less research into what characteristics of staff can cause, or prevent, violence. Age, skill and experience have been shown to have an impact on aggression but there have been mixed results from studies into the effects of gender. A study of a medium secure unit in the north-west of England examined this issue in two male and two female wards and found that patients were more likely to behave aggressively towards members of the same sex.

Knowles, Susan F., Coyne, Sarah M. and Brown, Stephen L. - Sex differences in aggressive incidents towards staff in secure services The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology December 2008, 19(4), 620-631