Anger Inventory Research Articles

Life stressors, emotional avoidance and breast cancer.

Two groups of women were assessed in psychological aspects considered by some authors of interest for personal well-being. The sample consisted of 118 women, 58 diagnosed with breast cancer and 60 healthy women, of similar ages and personal circumstances. The purpose of the study was: (a) to explore the existence of stressful life events in the women's history and their degree of subjective distress and (b) to determine whether or not there is an emotional avoidance style in the group of women with breast cancer. The following assessment instruments were employed: the "Cuestionario de Formas de Afrontamiento" (CEA), the Five-Factor Inventory NEO-PI-R, and the State-Trait Anger Inventory (STAXI). The results revealed more stressful vital events in the last two years in the group of women with breast cancer and significant differences in the degree of current distress. They also obtained higher scores in current anger, resignation, and neuroticism.

Hope, Anger, and Depression as Mediators for Forgiveness and Social Behavior in Turkish Children

ABSTRACT. This study examined the mediating effects of hope, anger, and depression in the associations between forgiveness and social behavior, in fourth grade students in Turkey. The 352 fourth grade primary school students were involved in the study. The average age was 9.98 and 56.3% were boys. The Enright Forgiveness Inventory for Children (EFI-C), the Beck Anger Inventory for Youth (BANI-Y), the Children Hope Scale (CHS), the Social Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ), and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) were used. Results showed that depression mediates the relationship between anger and antisocial behavior and between hope and antisocial behavior. Anger mediates the relationship between hope and depression and between hope and antisocial behavior. Forgiveness was related to anger and hope directly. Implications of this study for child counseling were discussed.

Effects of Art Therapy on Anger and Self-esteem in Aggressive Children

Verbal communication is difficult for children and more difficult for aggressive ones. This research use art therapy as an effective intervention to reduce anger and increase self-esteem of aggressive children with 7 to 11 years old. Thirty children were allocated to either a control group or an art therapy group equally and randomly. The intervention was performed once weekly for 10 weeks. Self-esteem and anger were measured at the beginning and at the end of 10 weeks, using the cooper smith Self-esteem Inventory (1967) and nelson & finch (2000) children inventory of anger. After 10 weeks, the art therapy group showed significant reduction of anger (p<0/001) and improvement of self-esteem (p<0/0001) compared with control group, except the educational self-esteem subscale that did not show significant reduction in compare with control group (p<0/1). These finding suggest that art therapy can reduce anger and improve self-esteem of aggressive children. While innate characteristics of art combine with concepts of psychology approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, art therapy could be a considerable intervention, especially for children.

Experience of anger in patients with irritable bowel syndrome in Romania.

Background and aimsAnger is strongly associated with the coping style, personality, interpersonal conflicts and quality of life. Increased research is being focused on the negative impact of anger on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Certain psychological areas such as anger have not been investigated in Romanian patients. The present study aims to determine the basal differences in experiencing anger between IBS patients and controls.MethodWe examined the State-Trait anger in 60 subjects with IBS and 45 controls. The socio-demographic data and the State-Trait Anger Inventory were administered in individual sessions.Resultsevidenced that the IBS group had high mean scores for trait anger. No significant differences between the groups were detected on state anger.ConclusionHigher levels of trait anger characterize IBS patients when compared to controls and this may be associated with symptoms. These findings are discussed within the context of other data suggesting that trait anger contributes to development and evolution of IBS, perhaps through modulation of the colonic motor activity.

Psychometric Properties of Farsi Version of the Spielberger‘s State-trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (FSTAXI-2)

The present study examines the psychometric properties of the Farsi version of Spielberger's (1988) State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI-2) for Iranian university students. 1140 students were selected from Tehran University, and Spielberger‘s State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 with one of the five instruments were completed by them. These instruments consisted of Multi-dimensional Anger Inventory (MAI; Siegel, 1986), Over-controlled Hostility Scale (O-H: Megargee, Cook, & Mendelson Bortner, 1976) Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI; Argyle, 1998), Emotional Intelligence (FEIS- 41; Besharat, 2007) and NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO- PI; Mc Cera & Costa, 1999). The results showed a significant relation between STAXI-2 and its subscales, and the majority of scores on parallel instruments. Factor analysis indicated the existence of multi-factorial model that consistent with the original structure. According to the findings, STAXI-2 has a reasonable reliability, internal consistency, and construct, content, concurrent, convergent, divergent and discriminant validity. Therefore, this tool can be used in research and clinical settings.

Rejected by peers—Attracted to antisocial media content: Rejection-based anger impairs moral judgment among adolescents.

Adolescence is an important developmental stage during which both peers and the media have a strong influence. Both peer rejection and the use of morally adverse media are associated with negative developmental outcomes. This study examines processes by which peer rejection might drive adolescents to select antisocial media content by tying together developmental research on peer rejection and research on media effects. Assumed underlying mechanisms are rejection-based anger and frustration and the adolescent's moral judgment. A between-participants experimental design manipulated peer rejection versus acceptance in adolescents (Mage = 13.88 years; N = 74) and young adults (Mage = 21.37 years; N = 75), applying the Cyberball paradigm. Measures included the State Anger Inventory (STAXI) to assess feelings of rejection and the newly devised Media, Morals, and Youth Questionnaire (MMaYQue) to assess media preferences and moral judgment of media content. Using bootstrapping analyses, a double mediation was established: Higher levels of state anger in peer-rejected adolescents induced more tolerable moral judgments of antisocial media content, subsequently instigating a preference for antisocial media content. In contrast, the young adult sample showed no relations between peer rejection and antisocial media preference. Results are discussed within a downward spiral framework of combined peer and media influences.

An Examination of the Factorial Invariance and Refinement of the Multidimensional School Anger Inventory for Five Pacific Rim Countries

The validity of the Multidimensional School Anger Inventory (MSAI) was examined with adolescents from 5 Pacific Rim countries (N = 3,181 adolescents; age, M = 14.8 years; 52% females). Confirmatory factor analyses examined configural invariance for the MSAI's anger experience, hostility, destructive expression, and anger coping subscales. The model did not converge for Peruvian students. Using the top 4 loaded items for anger experience, hostility, and destructive expression configural invariance and partial metric and scalar invariances were found. Latent means analysis compared mean responses on each subscale to the U.S. sample. Students from other countries showed higher mean responses on the anger experience subscale (ds = .37–.73). Australian (d = .40) and Japanese students (d = .21) had significantly higher mean hostility subscale scores. Australian students had higher mean scores on the destructive expression subscale (d = .30), whereas Japanese students had lower mean scores (d = − .17). The largest latent mean gender differences (females lower than males) were for destructive expression among Australian (d = − .67), Guatemalan (d = − .42), and U.S. (d = − .66) students. This study supported an abbreviated, 12-item MSAI with partial invariance. Implications for the use of the MSAI in comparative research are discussed. [Supplementary material is available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of International Journal of School & Educational Psychology for the following supplemental resource: “Chart of Procedures for MSAI Item Preparation, Sampling, and Data Collection by Country”]

Anger and major depressive disorder: The mediating role of emotion regulation and anger rumination

Many studies have documented the existence of a close relationship between anger and depression. Furthermore, recent literature has emphasized the role of impaired emotion regulation and anger rumination in depression. The aim of this study was to explore the mediating role of emotion regulation and anger rumination on the relation between anger and major depressive disorder. Eighty-eight patients with major depressive disorder (20 males, 68 females) completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Multidimensional Anger Inventory (MAI), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), and the Anger Rumination Scale (ARS). Results illustrated that in clinically depressed people, there are positive relationships between anger, depression, emotion regulation, and anger rumination. Path analysis revealed that emotion regulation and anger rumination played a mediating role on the relation between anger and major depression. Anger was associated with depression via emotion regulation and anger rumination. Findings of the present study suggest that emotion regulation and anger rumination play an important role on the relation between anger and depression. The current study implicates the complicated nature of depression, and emphasizes the understanding and conceptualization of diverse variables that influence depression.

Co‐Occurring Anger in Young People With Asperger's Syndrome

The co-occurrence of anger in young people with Asperger's syndrome (AS) has received little attention despite aggression, agitation, and tantrums frequently being identified as issues of concern in this population. The present study investigated the occurrence of anger in young people with AS and explores its relationship with anxiety and depression. Sixty-two young people (12-23 years old) diagnosed with AS were assessed using the Beck Anger Inventory for Youth, Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, and Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale. Among young people with AS who participated in this study, 41% of participants reported clinically significant levels of anger (17%), anxiety (25.8%) and/or depression (11.5%). Anger, anxiety, and depression were positively correlated with each other. Depression, however, was the only significant predictor of anger. Anger is commonly experienced by young people with AS and is correlated with anxiety and depression. These findings suggest that the emotional and behavioral presentation of anger could serve as a cue for further assessment, and facilitate earlier identification and intervention for anger, as well as other mental health problems.

Dialectical behavior therapy: is outpatient group psychotherapy an effective alternative to individual psychotherapy?: Preliminary conclusions

ObjectivesThis study evaluates a 12-month-duration adapted outpatient group dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) program for patients with a borderline personality disorder in an unselected, comorbid population. If the results of this approach are comparable with the outcome rates of a standard DBT program, the group approach can have several advantages over individual treatment. One advantage is the possibility of treating more patients per therapist. MethodA pre-post design was used to measure the effectiveness of an outpatient group DBT. Data from the Beck Depression Inventory II, the Symptom Checklist 90–Revised, the State-Trait Anger Inventory, the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, of 34 female patients (mean age, 32.65 years) were collected before and after a treatment period of 1 year. ResultsOverall, a significant reduction (P < .05) of depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and anger was experienced by the patients. ConclusionsThis study is a first attempt in showing that DBT in an outpatient group setting can be effective in reducing psychiatric complaints and therefore has several advantages, such as the opportunity to treat more patients at once.

Abstract P084: Associations of Anger and Hostility with the Metabolic Syndrome: Cross-sectional Analyses from the Jackson Heart Study

There is evidence that anger and hostility are positively associated with the metabolic syndrome. In turn, the metabolic syndrome mediates the association between anger and hostility and adverse cardiac events. Very little is known about these associations in African-American populations. We assessed the hypothesis that anger and hostility are positively associated with the metabolic syndrome in an African-American cohort. Participants were 2,732 African-American men and women, ages 45 – 95, who were enrolled in the Jackson Heart Study at baseline. Anger was measured using the Spielberger State-Trait Anger Inventory, and hostility was measured using the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale. The metabolic syndrome was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Overall anger, components anger-in and anger-out, and hostility scores were entered into separate logistic regression models as continuous variables. In models adjusted for age, sex, educational level, and physical activity, higher levels of overall anger (β = 0.024, p = 0.006), anger-in (β = 0.028, p = 0.04), anger-out (β = 0.037, p = 0.04), and hostility (β = 0.021, p = 0.04) were associated with an increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. The correlation between anger and hostility was statistically significant but not strong (r = 0.38, p &lt;0.0001). In men, 5 of the 16 individual anger items were significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome. The strongest was “I lose my temper” (β = 0.395, p = 0.003) and “I tend to harbor grudges” (β = 0.314, p = 0.008). In women, only 1 anger item, “I make sarcastic remarks” (β = 0.189, p = 0.04) was associated with the metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, higher levels of overall anger, anger-in, anger-out, and hostility were associated with an increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in middle- and older-aged African-American men and women. In men, an angry temperament and a tendency to hold grudges were particularly strong correlates of the metabolic syndrome. Increased understanding of the negative emotions anger and hostility among African-Americans may provide greater insights into cardiovascular disease risk in their population.

学校での怒りの多次元尺度日本語版の信頼性・妥当性の検討

This study developed the Japanese version of the Multidimensional School Anger Inventory (MSAI; Smith & Furlong, 1998). The MSAI was devised to assess anger in the school context from a multidimensional perspective, which includes Anger Experience (affective component), Cynical Attitude (cognitive component), Destructive Expression and Positive Coping (behavioral component). The responses of 3 443 students from elementary to high school, age 10 to 17 on the Japanese version of the MSAI were used in the analyses. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis identified that the four-factor structure of the J-MSAI was the same as for the original MSAI. The reliability of the scale was supported by internal consistency and test-retest stability for the subscales. The construct validity of the scale was supported by cross-instrument correlations. Furthermore, the results showed that junior high and high school students had higher scores for Cynical Attitude than elementary school students, whereas developmental level had little effect on Anger Experience and Destructive Expression.

Sources of somatization: Exploring the roles of insecurity in relationships and styles of anger experience and expression

Research in the U.S. has shown strong connections between insecure attachment in close relationships and somatization. In addition, studies have demonstrated connections between somatic symptoms and anger experience and expression. In this study, we integrate perspectives from these two literatures by testing the hypothesis that proneness to anger and suppression of anger mediate the link between insecurity in relationships and somatization. Between 2000 and 2003, a community-based sample of 101 couples in a large U.S. city completed self-report measures, including the Somatic Symptom Inventory, the Relationship Scales Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Anger Inventory, the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Controlling for age, income, and recent intimate partner violence, analyses showed that the link between insecure attachment and somatization was partially mediated by anger proneness for men and by anger suppression for women. Findings are consistent with the hypothesis that men who are insecurely attached are more prone to experience anger that in turn fosters somatization. For women, findings suggest that insecure attachment may influence adult levels of somatization by fostering suppression of anger expression. Specific clinical interventions that help patients manage and express angry feelings more adaptively may reduce insecurely attached individuals’ vulnerability to medically unexplained somatic symptoms.

Psychometric characteristics of the Persian version of the Multidimensional School Anger Inventory–Revised

The Multidimensional School Anger Inventory–Revised (MSAI-R) is a measurement tool to evaluate high school students' anger. Its psychometric features have been tested in the USA, Australia, Japan, Guatemala, and Italy. This study investigates the factor structure and psychometric quality of the Persian version of the MSAI-R using data from an administration of the inventory to 585 Iranian high school students. The study adopted the four-factor underlying structure of high school student anger derived through factor analysis in previous validation studies, which consists of: School Hostility, Anger Experience, Positive Coping, and Destructive Expressions. Confirmatory factor analysis of this four-factor model indicated that it fit the data better than a one-factor baseline model, although the fit was not perfect. The Rasch model showed a very high internal consistency among items, with no item misfitting; however, our results suggest that to represent the construct sufficiently some items should be added to Positive Coping and Destructive Expression. This finding is in agreement with Boman, Curtis, Furlong, and Smith's Rasch analysis of the MSAI-R with an Australian sample. Overall, the results from this study support the psychometric features of the Persian MSAI-R. However, results from some test items also point to the dangers inherent in adapting the same test stimuli to widely divergent cultures.

P03-414 - Anger arousal and well being as markers of social functioning and quality of life in the aftermath of exposure to life threatening trauma

IntroductionSevere stress or exposure to life threatening trauma is known to affect social functioning and quality of life.ObjectivesTo study well-being and anger arousal as markers of social functioning and quality of life in a group of University students exposed to a suicide bomb attack on a University in Pakistan.AimsTo examine indicators of social functioning in order to higlight them as targets for therapeutic interventions.MethodsSubjects were assessed after one year of exposure to a life threatening incident on University campus. Subjects completed an assessment schedule incorporating World Health Organization's Well-Being Index and Novarco Anger Inventory (25 items).Results54 students completed the assessment. The mean age of the group was 24 years. All subjects had completed 14–16 years of education and were in full time education at the time of assessment. The Well Being Index Score range was 1–24 with 26 sujects scoring 13 or lower scores indicating poor quality of life. 29 subjects scored higer levels of anger arousal on 10 or more items of Novarco Anger Inventory indicating difficulties in social functioning. The overall group showed a statistically significant negative correlation between the Well-Being Index Scores and the number of Novarco Anger Inventory items scored in the two highest categories of anger arousal.ConclusionsThe results of the study highlight anger arousal and well-being as important markers of functioning in the aftermath of a stressful life event. The study confirms their usefulness as legitimate therapeutic targets for pharmacotherapy, psychotherapeutic, and social interventions.

The Role of Forgiveness in Divorce Adjustment and the Impact of Affect

The role of forgiveness and affect was investigated in relation to divorce adjustment. Ninety-one participants separated from their ex-spouse less than 30 months completed a background questionnaire, the Enright Forgiveness Inventory (EFI), the Self Forgiveness Scale (SFS), the Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression Inventory (CES–D), the Spielberger State–Trait Anger Inventory (STAXI–2), and the Fisher Divorce Adjustment Scale (FDAS). There were significant relationships between depression and the capacity to forgive and between being in an angry feeling state and harboring a lack of forgiveness toward the ex-spouse. The relationship that emerged as the most powerful was that between trait anger and lack of self-forgiveness. Forgiveness intervention that occurs early in the divorce adjustment process is implicated, particularly in relation to the self.

Aggression and offence motivation in prisoners: exploring the components of motivation in an adult male sample

This study examined aggression and offending motivation. Participants were 206 adult male prisoners. All completed the Aggression Motivation Questionnaire [Ireland, 2008], the Offending Motivation Questionnaire [Gudjonsson and Sigurdsson, 2004], the Multidimensional Anger Inventory [Siegel, 1986] and the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding [Paulhus, 1991]. It was predicted that aggression motivation would separate into two factors, one reflecting proactive aggression and the other reactive aggression. It was predicted that aggression motives would vary by offence type. It was also predicted that the offending motives identified in previous research (i.e. Excitement, Compliance, Provocation and Financial) would be reflected in this study. Levels of anger and social desirability were also examined for their relationship with aggression and offending motives. Results indicated that aggression motivation separated into four core motives; protection, social recognition, perceived positive outcome, and pleasure. Violent and nonviolent offenders were found to differ in their underlying motives for recent acts of aggression. Anger was related to all core aggression motives, whereas social desirability was related only to some. Offending motives were similar to previous research although some differences were found. Results are discussed with reference to their theoretical and clinical implications.

Anger in Elderly Patients with Depressive Disorders

ObjectiveThis study was conducted to investigate anger in elderly patients with depressive disorders.MethodsThe subjects included 216 elderly patients with depression and 198 controls. All subjects were assessed by the State and Trait Anger Inventory (STAXI), Aggression Questionnaire (AQ), Reaction Inventory (RI).ResultsElderly patients with depressive disorder showed lower levels of trait anger and anger expression on the STAXI, lower levels of verbal aggression and hostility on the AQ, and lower levels of anger reaction to the unpredictable disruption and disturbances factor, the embarrassing circumstances factor, and the personal disrespect factor on the RI than the controls. In the depression group, the severity of their depression was positively correlated with the trait anger, state anger, anger expression (except 'anger control') scores on the STAXI; the physical aggression, anger, and hostility scores on the AQ; and the anger reaction to unpredictable disruption and disturbances factor, the embarrassing circumstances factor, and the personal disrespect factor scores on the RI. However, the severity of depression negatively correlated with only anger control on the STAXI. In the linear logistic regression analysis, as there were higher levels of state anger seen in the STAXI, anger on the AQ, anger reaction to unpleasant factors on the RI, and therefore the likelihood of depression would be higher.ConclusionElderly depressive patients are less likely to have anger traits and to express anger than normal elderly. However, in elderly depressive patients, the higher they have severity of depressive symptoms, the higher they reported anger experience and anger expression.

Anger in mothers of children with disabilities: effects of occupation an level of education

In order to investigate anger in mothers of educable mentally retarded and slow learner children, based on their occupation and level of education, a total of 100 mothers completed the Multidimensional Anger Inventory (Siegel, 1986) and a demographic information questionnaire. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance. Results showed a significant relationship between level of education with anger arousal and anger-in. More precisely, mothers with higher educational level showed lower anger arousal and anger-in. No significant differences were found between anger of mothers with different occupational status (housewife versus employed). Confirming the relationship between anger and level of education, the present research can be helpful in devising educational policies for mothers.© 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The Moderating Role of Locus of Control on the Relationship Between Anger and Depression in Patients With Major Depression Disorder

The moderating role of locus of control on the relationship between anger and depression was investigated in a sample of patients with major depression disorder (MDD). 127 MDD patients (81 men, 45 women) were recruited to the study. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Multidimensional Anger Inventory, and Rotter's Locus of Control Scale. Results showed that anger dimensions and locus of control have direct significant relationship with depression levels. Internal locus of control and depression had a significant reverse relationship. Regression analysis revealed that increasing levels of internal locus of control was accompanied with weaker relationship between anger-eliciting situations and depression.