Prevalence and correlates of anger in the community: results from a national survey

Abstract

Introduction Little is known about the prevalence and correlates of anger in the community. Methods We used data derived from a large national sample of the United States population which included more than 34,000 adults ages 18 years and older. We defined inappropriate, intense, or poorly controlled anger by means of self-report of: 1) anger that was triggered by small things or that was difficult to control; 2) frequent temper outbursts or anger that lead to loss of control; or 3) hitting people or throwing objects in anger. Results The overall prevalence of inappropriate, intense, or poorly controlled anger in the U.S. population was 7.8%. Anger was especially common among men and younger adults, and was associated with decreased psychosocial functioning. Significant and positive associations were evident between anger and parental factors, childhood, and adulthood adverse events. There were strong associations between anger and bipolar disorder, drug dependence, psychotic disorder, borderline, and schizotypal personality disorders. There was a dose-response relationship between anger and a broad range of psychopathology. Conclusions A rationale exists for developing screening tools and early intervention strategies, especially for young adults, to identify and help reduce anger.

Magnitude of Problematic Anger and its Predictors in the Millennium Cohort

“…The present study also supports previous work that has found factors such as male gender, younger age, lower educational attainment, non-white race/ethnicity, and childhood trauma to be associated with anger (14,44,45). Notably, in the case of non-white race/ethnicity, anger may be a re ection of longstanding social inequality or other forms of discrimination without the societally-sanctioned opportunity to express outrage (46).…”

Population heterogeneity of trait anger and differential associations of trait anger facets with borderline personality features, neuroticism, depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and alcohol problems

“…On average, age explained 0.3% of the variance of anger items in males, and 6% of the variance in females. This is consistent with previous results (Hakulinen et al, 2013; Okuda et al, 2015; Phillips et al, 2006). Age was therefore included as a covariate in all analyses.…”

“…This is implemented in Mplus with option “mixture complex”, and using a family indicator as grouping variable, Muthén and Muthén, 1998–2012). Age was used as class-predicting covariate to correct for age influence on class membership (Phillips et al, 2006; Hakulinen et al, 2013; Okuda et al, 2015). …”

Construct validity of a new scale for assessing anger proneness (APS-G)

“…Recent studies have also linked anger with several psychiatric disorders, such as depression, neuroticism, attention deficit, and hyperactivity disorder, and problems with the consumption of alcoholic beverages (Lubke, Ouwens, deMoor, Trull, & Boomsma, 2015;Morrison, Noel, & Ogle, 2012) and alcohol-related aggression (Giancola, 2002). Likewise, other researchers have also found strong links between anger and psychotic disorder, drug dependence, bipolar disorder, and schizotypal and borderline personality disorders (Okuda et al, 2015).…”