Seda ÖZTÜRK, Durdane YILMAZ GÜVEN
Eurasian Journal of Emergency Medicine - 2026;25(1):320-328
Aim: To examine the association between anxiety, depression, and tendency toward violence among relatives of patients in emergency departments. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among 371 relatives of patients in the emergency department of a district state hospital between February and May 2025. Data were collected using a personal information form the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS), and the Violence Tendency scale (VTS). Results: The mean HADS-anxiety score of patient relatives was 8.16+/-3.93, and the mean depression score was 7.10+/-3.66. The mean VTS score was 36.97+/-9.19. Analysis showed a positive, weak, and statistically significant association between the VTS and the HADS-anxiety subscale (r=0.254; p<0.001), and between the VTS and the HADS-depression subscale (r=0.218; p<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that anxiety and depression scores were significantly associated with a tendency toward violence. Conclusion: Anxiety and depression levels among relatives of patients were significantly associated with their tendencies toward violence. Emergency department staff and administrators should develop strategies to prevent violence and to reduce the anxiety of patients' relatives.
