Citation

Liu J, Wuerker A. Int. J. Nurs. Stud. 2005; 42(2): 229-241.

Affiliation

Social Science Research Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0375, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2004.06.007

PMID

15680620

Abstract

Although aggression and violence have been increasingly viewed as a major public health problem with a biological and health basis, it has been under-researched in the nursing and health context. This paper reviews early biological risk factors for violence. These factors include pregnancy/birth complications, fetal exposure to nicotine, alcohol, and drugs, low cholesterol, malnutrition, lead and manganese exposure, head injuries and brain dysfunction, low arousal, low serotonin, low cortisol, and high testosterone. A biopsychosocial violence mode is proposed. Finally, the paper argues that nursing is ideally placed to develop a new body of knowledge based on a biosocial perspective that can lead to more effective prevention programs for violence.