Social and Economic Risk Factors

There are a number of social and economic factors in communities and society that help to create a climate in which violence is encouraged. These include:

• High concentrations of poverty
• Diminished economic opportunities
• Socially disorganized neighborhoods
• High levels of family disruption
• Low community participation
• Social and cultural norms that encourage violence
• Health, educational, and social policies that help to maintain economic or social inequalities between groups in society

Social and economic risk factors create strains on health care systems and can lead to staffing shortages at a time when more people are seeking emergency services and can set the stage for violence.