Cited by 192Bullying, Victimization, and AggressionWorkplace Violence and BullyingPsychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending

Understanding aggressive behaviour across the lifespan

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LIU, J., LEWIS, G., EVANS, L.·2013·Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

Abstract

Accessible summary: Aggressive behavior is the observable manifestation of aggression and is associated with transitions across different developmental periods as well as a variety of medical and psychiatric disorders. This paper provides a brief review of the different biological, social, and environmental risk factors that may predispose individuals to aggressive behavior. In addition, this paper discusses the unique risk factors for aggressive behavior across the developmental spectrum, including childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and late life. Appreciation of the risk factors of aggressive behavior and how they relate to age‐specific manifestations may aid the development of prevention and treatment programs. Aggressive behaviour is the observable manifestation of aggression and is often associated with developmental transitions and a range of medical and psychiatric diagnoses across the lifespan. As healthcare professionals involved in the medical and psychosocial care of patients from birth through death, nurses frequently encounter – and may serve as – both victims and perpetrators of aggressive behaviour in the workplace. While the nursing literature has continually reported research on prevention and treatment approaches, less emphasis has been given to understanding the aetiology, including contextual precipitants of aggressive behaviour. This paper provides a brief review of the biological, social and environmental risk factors that purportedly give rise to aggressive behaviour. Further, many researchers have focused specifically on aggressive behaviour in adolescence and adulthood. Less attention has been given to understanding the aetiology of such behaviour in young children and older adults. This paper emphasizes the unique risk factors for aggressive behaviour across the developmental spectrum, including childhood, adolescence, adulthood and late life. Appreciation of the risk factors of aggressive behaviour, and, in particular, how they relate to age‐specific manifestations, can aid nurses in better design and implementation of prevention and treatment programmes.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2012.01902.x

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  1. Richmond TS Schwab CW Branas CC 2002 Firearm availability and childhood death.[Editorial Commentary] Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care 52 274 275
  2. Rosenberg MS Rossman BB 1998 Maltreated adolescents: victims caught between childhood and adulthood Multiple Victimization of Children: Conceptual, Development, Research, and Treatment Issues 1 107 129 New York Routledge
  3. Talerico K Evans L 2000 Making Sense of Aggressive/Protective Behaviors in Persons with Dementia Alzheimer’s Care Quarterly 1 4 77 88
  4. Werbach M 1992 Nutritional Influences on Aggressive Behavior Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine 7 1 45 51

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Authors
LIU, J., LEWIS, G., & EVANS, L.
Affiliations
University of Pennsylvania (US)
Corresponding author
LIU, J.
ORCID
LIU, J.
Venue
Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2012-04-04
Volume
20
Issue
2
Pages
156-168
ISSN
  • 1351-0126 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2850
OpenAlex
W1535694698
Cited by
191
References
134
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2012: 1
FWCI
0.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (K01ES015877, K02ES019878, R01ES018858)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Workplace Violence and Bullying
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
Keywords
aggression, risk factors, lifespan development, child aggression, adolescent aggression, adult aggression, etiology, prevention programmes, treatment programs, workplace aggression
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aggression, Behavioral Symptoms, Child, Child, Preschool, Humans, Human Development, Infant, Risk Factors, Young Adult

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