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Emotion induction moderates effects of anger management style on acute pain sensitivity.

Anger management style (AMS) is related to both acute and chronic pain intensity. Recent work suggests that an anger expressive AMS in particular may influence acute pain, and that this effect may be most pronounced during anger provocation. The present study examined whether AMS was related to subsequent pain sensitivity without regard to prior emotion induction, only when a strong negative emotion was evoked, or only when anger was provoked. Sixty-four healthy normals partook in semi-structured interviews in which they recalled and verbally described an event in which either anger, sadness, or joy was elicited. They then underwent a cold pressor pain task. Results of hierarchical multiple regressions showed that an anger expressive AMS was related positively to pain threshold only for participants in the anger-recall condition, and that this effect was largely accounted for by their low SBP reactivity during emotion induction. An anger suppressive AMS was related positively to increases in self-reported pain severity, irrespective of emotion-induction condition, and this effect was not accounted for by reactivity in any cardiovascular index. Results extend those of previous studies by illuminating the potential importance of behavioral anger expression for individuals prone to express anger in modulating their reactivity and pain sensitivity. Findings suggest that the detrimental effects of an anger expressive style on pain sensitivity may be ameliorated under conditions in which behavioral anger expression occurs. Results are discussed in terms of recent work suggesting that an expressive AMS is associated with endogenous opioid dysfunction in the absence of behavioral anger expression.

Acute Disease↗

Correlates of the MMPI-2 anger content scale.

Scores on the MMPI-2 anger-content scale were correlated with those on Spielberger's anger expression scale, Zelin, et al.'s anger self-report scale, and the Cook and Medley hostility scale. Subjects were 32 men and 33 women in college. As expected, the anger-content scale correlated significantly with measures of anger awareness, anger expression (anger out versus anger in), and negatively with anger control. There was also a significant correlation with measures of hostility (projection of anger) for men.

Adult↗

The effects of fear and anger facial expressions on approach- and avoidance-related behaviors.

The facial expressions of fear and anger are universal social signals in humans. Both expressions have been frequently presumed to signify threat to perceivers and therefore are often used in studies investigating responses to threatening stimuli. Here the authors show that the anger expression facilitates avoidance-related behavior in participants, which supports the notion of this expression being a threatening stimulus. The fear expression, on the other hand, facilitates approach behaviors in perceivers. This contradicts the notion of the fear expression as predominantly threatening or aversive and suggests it may represent an affiliative stimulus. Although the fear expression may signal that a threat is present in the environment, the effect of the expression on conspecifics may be in part to elicit approach.

Adult↗

Anger-related personality traits and carotid artery atherosclerosis in untreated hypertensive men.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether anger-related personality traits are associated with carotid artery atherosclerosis in untreated hypertensive patients. METHODS: Study participants were 237 men with elevated blood pressure (systolic 140-180 mm Hg and/or diastolic 90-110 mm Hg) but untreated for hypertension. Average age was 56 years; 80% of subjects were white. Eighty-six percent had no history of antihypertensive treatment, and the remainder reported median lifetime treatment exposure of 4 months. Subjects were administered the Spielberger State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, which measures tendencies to experience anger (Trait Anger) and modes of anger expression (Anger-In, Anger-Out, Anger-Control). Mean and maximum intima-medial thickness (IMT) and plaque occurrence in the extracranial carotid arteries were measured by B-mode ultrasonography. RESULTS: Trait Anger was marginally (p =.065) related to mean and significantly (p <.05) related to maximum IMT, independent of standard risk factors (age, race, body mass index, education, smoking, fasting glucose, total:high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio). A component of Trait Anger, Angry Temperament, similarly predicted mean (p =.062) and maximum IMT (p <.05) and plaque occurrence (p <.05). Anger-Out predicted both mean and maximum IMT (p values <.01). CONCLUSIONS: An antagonistic disposition (Trait Anger), particularly a tendency to experience anger on minimal provocation (Angry Temperament) and a propensity to express anger outwardly (Anger-Out), are associated with heightened carotid atherosclerosis. These findings suggest that recently reported prospective associations between these anger dimensions and incident cerebrovascular disease may be mediated, in part, by increased atherosclerotic disease.

Age Factors↗

Anger and depression management: psychoeducational skill training interventions for women caregivers of a relative with dementia.

PURPOSE: This study examines the short-term impact of two theoretically based psychoeducational small group interventions with distressed caregivers, and it also examines the role of specific moderator and mediator variables on caregiver outcomes. DESIGN AND METHODS: Female participants (N = 169) aged 50 and older who were caring for a community-dwelling relative with a dementing illness were randomly assigned to one of three treatment interventions: anger management, depression management, or a wait-list control group. These interventions took place over a 3- to 4-month period. The primary outcomes examined were anger or hostile mood, depressed mood, frequency of use of positive and negative coping strategies, and perceived caregiving self-efficacy. RESULTS: Significant main effects in the expected direction were found for changes in most of these measures. Participants in both anger management and depression management groups had significant reductions in their levels of anger or hostility and depression from Time 1 to Time 2 in comparison to participants in the wait-list control group. Use of positive cognitive coping strategies increased in the anger management group only. Self-efficacy significantly increased for participants in both intervention groups, and it was also demonstrated to function as a mediator of intervention effects. Pretreatment levels of depressive symptoms and anger expression style (Anger Expression-Out) moderated the relative effects of the two interventions on mood and coping. IMPLICATIONS: These data are consistent with a growing body of evidence supporting the effectiveness of skills training, in small groups, to improve both the affective states and the type of coping strategies used by caregivers. In addition, this study underscores the need to evaluate key pretreatment variables in order to determine which form of treatment may be more compatible with caregiver characteristics and thus more likely to be beneficial to individuals.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Anger and depressed affect: interindividual and intraindividual perspectives.

The relation between anger and depressed affect was examined with both interindividual and intraindividual analyses. Seventy-seven undergraduate students completed the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, 1961) and kept a psychological diary for 10 consecutive days. The diary included questions dealing with felt anger and expressed anger, and several measures of depressed affect. Only one of four correlational analyses between the number of days on which students reported feeling angry and aggregate measures of depression was significant. However, intraindividual analyses revealed that days on which students reported feeling angry were also days on which they reported higher levels of depressed affect. The tendency to attribute the cause of angry feelings to one's own actions was positively related to depressed affect. The tendency to inhibit expression of anger was positively related to the measure of depression.

Adult↗

The effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy in depression.

AIM: To examine the process and outcome of the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to treat depression. METHOD: The study was undertaken at an acute psychiatric assessment and treatment centre based in the community. The centre operates an open referral system. The study sample was taken from clients attending the centre for mental health assessment who were subsequently diagnosed with unipolar depression. The total sample of 38 clients were allocated to either a treatment group (n = 19) or waiting list control group (n = 19) matching for age, gender and social support. The treatment group was divided into four groups. Each of these groups received 12 sessions of CBT, derived from the procedures described by Beck et al (1979). Data from dysfunctional thought diaries and Beck depression inventory scores were analysed. RESULTS: The results confirm those of previous outcome studies, that CBT is an effective treatment for depression. The results also indicate some interesting points relating to the expression of negative emotions as depression scores improve. It appeared that the expression of sadness preceded the expression of anger. Expression of sadness may be a precursor to expression of anger and necessary for recovery from depression. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that dimensions of an individual's personality, such as perfectionism and sociotrophy, may be influential in determining the outcomes of CBT. Further research in this area is indicated.

Analysis of Variance↗

Linkages between facial expressions of anger and transient myocardial ischemia in men with coronary artery disease.

The authors examined whether facial expressions of emotion would predict changes in heart function. One hundred fifteen male patients with coronary artery disease underwent the Type A Structured Interview, during which time measures of transient myocardial ischemia (wall motion abnormality and left ventricular ejection fraction) were obtained. Facial behavior exhibited during the ischemia measurement period was videotaped and later coded by using the Facial Action Coding System (P. Ekman & W. V. Friesen, 1978). Those participants who exhibited ischemia showed significantly more anger expressions and nonenjoyment smiles than nonischemics. Cook-Medley Hostility scores did not vary with ischemic status. The findings have implications for understanding how anger and hostility differentially influence coronary heart disease risk.

Adult↗

Anger management style, hostility and spouse responses: gender differences in predictors of adjustment among chronic pain patients.

This study examined whether relationships between anger management style (anger suppression; anger expression) and adjustment variables for patients with chronic pain depend on patient hostility, and/or depend on a patient's gender. A 'spouse response model' was also evaluated to test whether patient expression of hostile anger is linked to infrequent positive and frequent negative responses from spouses, and hence to poor adjustment. The sample of 127 married chronic pain patients was assessed prior to entry into a multidisciplinary pain treatment program. Hierarchical multiple regressions revealed significant 'Anger Expression x Hostility x Gender' interactions for pain severity, activity interference and activity level: High Anger Expressor/Low Hostile women reported the lowest pain and highest activity; Low Anger Expressor/High Hostile men reported the highest pain and highest interference. Among men, support was also found for a spouse response model: pain severity and activity interference for High Anger Expressors was partly accounted for by negative spouse responses. Results suggest that discriminations among patients may be made based on anger management style in interaction with level of hostile attitude and the patient's gender, and that these distinctions may have implications for understanding mechanisms of pain and disability, and for designing appropriate treatment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Anger and advancement versus sadness and subjugation: the effect of negative emotion expressions on social status conferral.

Four studies examined status conferral (decisions about who should be granted status). The studies show that people confer more status to targets who express anger than to targets who express sadness. In the 1st study, participants supported President Clinton more when they viewed him expressing anger about the Monica Lewinsky scandal than when they saw him expressing sadness about the scandal. This effect was replicated with an unknown politician in Study 2. The 3rd study showed that status conferral in a company was correlated with peers' ratings of the workers' anger. In the final study, participants assigned a higher status position and a higher salary to a job candidate who described himself as angry as opposed to sad. Furthermore, Studies 2-4 showed that anger expressions created the impression that the expresser was competent and that these perceptions mediated the relationship between emotional expressions and status conferral.

Adult↗

Anger, hostility, and visceral adipose tissue in healthy postmenopausal women.

Central obesity is an important risk factor for chronic disease. Its etiology remains unclear. We examined whether anger and hostility, ie, psychological attributes that influence cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, prospectively predict central visceral obesity across 13 years. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was determined by x-ray computed tomography (CT) at the L4-L5 disc space in a population-based sample of 157 postmenopausal Healthy Women Study participants. Standardized tests were completed to measure separately trait anger (anger frequency and intensity), style of anger expression (holding anger in and expressing it outwardly), and hostile (mistrustful) attitudes. The higher the VAT score, the higher the trait anger and anger-out scores measured 13 years earlier (Ps < .04) and the higher the concurrent hostile attitudes score (P < .02). Moreover, the higher the VAT score, the greater the increase in trait anger over the study period (P < .03). Trait anger and hostility predicted VAT independent of fasting insulin levels, although both predicted an increase in fasting insulin over time. Women were categorized into three groups according to the distribution of the average percent increase in trait anger and in weight across the study period, respectively. The mean VAT scores increased with the likelihood of being in the highest tertile of increasing trait anger (means: 129.1, 131.1, and 155.8, P < .048) and in the highest tertile of increasing weight (means: 122.4, 131.1, and 162.2, P < .003). The association between a high trait anger score and VAT remained significant, controlling for weight gain. We conclude that hostile attributes, fasting insulin, and weight gain in midlife may contribute to the development of VAT in healthy Caucasian women.

Adipose Tissue↗

Interactive effects of traits, states, and gender on cardiovascular reactivity during different situations.

Interactive effects of anger and anxiety traits, negative affect state, different situations, and gender on cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) to stress were examined. Subjects (91 men, 92 women) performed a reaction time task under either a Social Evaluation, a Harassment, or a Control condition; SBP, DBP, and HR were recorded continuously. Hierarchical multiple regressions revealed intricate interactions. The interaction of anger expression style and anger experience was significant only among men, such that anger suppressors with high trait anger showed the largest CVR of any group during Harassment; anger expressors exhibited generally high CVR across conditions. However, anger expression style and state negative affect interacted to affect CVR in both men and women. Finally, the fear of negative evaluation predicted elevated DBP responses only among men in the Social Evaluation condition. Results imply that the extent to which traits of anger and anxiety contribute to coronary risk may depend on interactions with other traits, gender, and the environment.

Adolescent↗

Cardiovascular and behavioral response to social confrontation: measuring real-life stress in the laboratory.

Laboratory investigations of cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress often ignore concomitant differences in cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses that are commonly observed among study participants. To provide a more systematic laboratory methodology to examine relations among cardiovascular, behavioral, and self-report measures of cognitive and affective responses to stress, we developed and tested a social confrontation procedure involving standardized interactions during two scenes. Results of three investigations are presented to illustrate the utility of the social confrontation procedure. In the first two studies, this multidimensional assessment strategy produced results which may foster research projects that bridge separate areas of psychological inquiry. In one application, persons with hypertensive parents, in contrast to persons with normotensive parents, exhibited characteristic negative behavioral responses during both interactions as well as the more commonly-observed exaggerated blood pressure reactions. In the other study, students from less functional families (regarding cohesion and adaptability) were shown to exhibit exaggerated blood pressure reactions in addition to their commonly-reported negative cognitive and behavioral coping styles. Finally, a third study examined how a simple instructional set regarding the expression or suppression of anger influenced participants' responses. Significant differences were observed across response domains, with anger expression resulting in a more intense response than anger suppression. In sum, the social confrontation procedure represents an important methodological development for exploring the relation between response domains, the relation between cardiovascular response to stress and psychosocial risk for cardiovascular disease, and the physiological and behavioral distinction between anger expression and anger suppression.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Anger suppression and adiposity modulate association between ADRB2 haplotype and cardiovascular stress reactivity.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine how variation in the beta-2 adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB2), in combination with the moderating influences of race, body mass index (BMI), and anger expression style (anger-in, anger-out), affects blood pressure (BP) at rest and in response to acute laboratory stress. METHODS: Four hundred fifty adolescents (mean age = 18.5 +/- 2.7 years; 228 [124 males] whites and 222 [110 males] blacks completed two stressors (video game challenge, forehead cold pressor). Hemodynamic measures were taken before, during, and after each stressor. Stressors were separated by a 20-minute rest period. RESULTS: Frequency of detrimental haplotype (Gly16/Glu27) carrier status was greater among whites than blacks (p < .05). A significant three-way interaction among haplotype, BMI, and race for resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) found the highest BP level to be among high BMI carriers, but only for whites. A separate three-way interaction was found to be significant for haplotype, anger-in and race such that high anger-in carriers showed the highest level of resting SBP (p < .05) and total peripheral resistance (TPR) (p < .05) and the greatest TPR reactivity to the cold pressor task (p < .01). Post hoc analyses revealed these interactions with anger-in were only present among blacks. No significant interactions with anger-out for either ethnic group were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates modulating influences of BMI and anger expression styles on ADRB2 gene associations with hemodynamic function at rest and in response to laboratory stress. These findings support the hypothesis that consideration of gene-environment interactions may better characterize the role of ADRB2 variation in the development of stress-induced essential hypertension.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Anger state during acute insulin-induced hypoglycaemia.

This study sought to examine the effects of insulin-induced hypoglycaemia on anger state, and to describe the associations between change in the anger state and measures of anger trait and anger expression (assessed using the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory). A hyperinsulinaemic glucose clamp was used to achieve controlled euglycaemia (5.0 mmol/L) and hypoglycaemia (2.6 mmol/L) in 18 nondiabetic subjects and 30 people with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Subjects underwent both hypoglycaemic and euglycaemic conditions, separated by 2 weeks, in a counterbalanced order. During each study condition subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire on anger state. Results at euglycaemia and hypoglycaemia were compared, and differences between the conditions were correlated with measures of anger trait and anger expression. Hypoglycaemia caused both nondiabetic and IDDM subjects to report a significant increase in feelings of anger, despite being in a nonconfrontational setting. However, there were no clear associations between an individual's change in reported anger and measures of anger trait and anger expression. No association was found between the change in anger state and the intensity of an individual's symptomatic response to hypoglycaemia.

Adult↗

A comparison of reported levels and expression of anger in everyday and driving situations.

Incidents of road rage are frequently reported in the media, yet despite claims that aggression on congested roads is a serious social problem, little empirical research has explored the question of whether people really do become more aggressive behind the wheel. This study compares levels and expression of anger in everyday and driving situations with the aim of testing some of the commonly held beliefs about aggression on the roads. A survey questionnaire presented 15 short scenarios describing frustrating situations and included a measure of anger and three levels of expression, outward, displaced, and suppressed. The questionnaire was posted on the Internet and received 226 responses during a 3-month period. Analysis revealed that people were no more likely to report experiencing anger while driving than in non-driving situations. However, the expression of anger did differ in the two contexts. In response to the driving scenarios, respondents were significantly more likely to report displacing their anger than in non-driving situations. Those individuals who reported high levels of anger were also more likely to be outwardly aggressive while driving than they were in non-driving situations. Although males and females reported very similar levels of anger, their expression of anger did differ. For females, the largest difference is between outwardly expressing anger and the other two forms, displacing and suppressing, whereas for men, the differences between these three forms are more alike. The paper concludes with a discussion of the practical implications of these findings.

Activities of Daily Living↗

[Anger, problem behaviors, and health status in adolescent women].

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study was designed to identify anger-expression types of adolescent women and investigate the relation between the identified anger-expression types and their problem behaviors and health status. METHOD: One hundred ninety nine high school freshmen were recruited from September to November, 2003. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, cluster analysis, chi(2)-test, ANOVA, and Duncan's multiple comparison test. RESULT: Three anger-expression types in adolescent women were found; Anger-out/in, Anger-control/in, and Anger- control type. Adolescent women with frequently using the anger-out/in type and with higher state anger reported more delinquent behaviors, more health risk behaviors, and higher psychosomatic symptoms. However, adolescent women with lower state anger and frequently using the anger-control type reported more depression scores. CONCLUSION: There is a need to further clarify the relationship between anger-expression types and depression in adolescent women. The findings suggest the necessity of a development of the program for lowering the anger level and controlling the unfavorable anger expression types such as the anger-out in.

Adolescent↗

The facial expression of anger in seven-month-old infants.

This study concerned whether anger can be observed reliably in facial expressions as early as 7 months of age in a sample of 30 infants. It also assessed the influence of several variables on anger responses: infant's familiarity with the frustrator (mother vs. stranger), repetition of trials, and sex of the child. Correlations were obtained between the expression of anger and cognitive developmental level, maternal perceptions of irascibility (temperament), time since eating or sleeping, and facial flushing. Dependent variables included facial expression components as well as ratings of facial flushing. We found that the capacity to express anger is well developed by 7 months of age: facial patterning was detected reliably in the absence of contextual information, and repeated frustrations increased the amount of anger shown. No significant relationships were found, however, between facial expression of anger and temperament, drive states, or cognitive developmental scores.

Anger↗