The nurse is caring for a patient who has been the victim of elder abuse by her son. Which assessment finding would support the situational violence theory of elder mistreatment?

Question

1. The son is having a hard time staying employed.
2. The son went off to live at a boarding school for many years as a child.
3. The son witnessed several young boys being beat up in the neighborhood.
4. The son has lost his girlfriend and friends due to having to care for his mother full time.

Answer 1

3. The son witnessed several young boys being beat up in the neighborhood.

Explanation: 1. Employment status of the son is not a part of the situational violence theory of elder mistreatment. Employment may play a role in the characteristics of the abuser.
2. The situational violence theory does not address how children are raised and educated.
3. The situational violence theory does not address a situation of violence that the son may have witnessed while growing up. This could be explained by the learning theory of violence.
4. The situational violence theory suggests that elder mistreatment is thought to be a result of the caregiver becoming overwhelmed by the care the patient requires.