Characteristics of Anger Expression in Depressed Children

Abstract

To examine anger expression styles in depressed and nondepressed children and to investigate whether the relation between depression and anger expression was mediated by family variables. From a sample of 100 psychiatric inpatient children, 11 depressed children and 11 matched nondepressed psychiatric controls were compared on two self-report measures, the Pediatric Anger Expression Style and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales-III-K. Depressed children reported significantly more difficulty maintaining cognitive control of their anger than did nondepressed children who were psychiatric inpatients. Family cohesion and adaptability were not found to have an effect on this relationship. No significant differences were found with respect to the tendency to deny or suppress anger or the tendency to express anger aggressively. Depressed children experienced more difficulties expressing their anger using a controlled/cognitive style than nondepressed (externalizing) children. The lack of a mediating role of family variables suggests that anger expression styles may be more related to the characteristics of depression in children, a finding that has clinical implications for addressing treatment of depressed children.