VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN - PSYCHIATRIC-PATIENT ASSAULTS ON FEMALE STAFF

Violence against women is increasing in the community and the workplac e, and health care is not exempt from this trend. Women represent an u nacceptably high percentage of victims, yet gender has remained a negl ected variable for systematic inquiry. This article reports on gender differences among caregivers assaulted by their clients in 2 settings: a psychiatric inpatient facility and community residential house sett ings. Female staff were at risk in both settings. Same-gender assaults occurred more frequently than different-gender assaults, except in co mmunity residences, where assaults by male clients against female staf f were more frequent than in inpatient settings. The implications of t hese findings are discussed.