Abstract
The expression of anger is considered to be abnormal in depression, yet its role is only poorly understood. In the present
study we sought to clarify this role by examining the moderating influence of the family environment on overall levels of
anger expression and anger reactivity in depressed and non-depressed adolescents during conflictual interactions with their
parents. One hundred and forty one depressed and non-depressed adolescent participants engaged in a problem-solving task with
their parents during which their behavioral expression of anger and heart rate were recorded. The results demonstrate that
general levels of parental anger in the family environment (as indicated by the overall level of expressed anger by the parents
during the interactions) strongly moderates how depressed differ from non-depressed adolescents in terms of their anger, heart
rate and reactivity. Overall, the findings suggest that in depressed adolescents anger is much less adaptively attuned to
the environment, consistent with models that predict dysfunction in the regulation of anger that prevents depressed individuals
responding adaptively to their social environment.
study we sought to clarify this role by examining the moderating influence of the family environment on overall levels of
anger expression and anger reactivity in depressed and non-depressed adolescents during conflictual interactions with their
parents. One hundred and forty one depressed and non-depressed adolescent participants engaged in a problem-solving task with
their parents during which their behavioral expression of anger and heart rate were recorded. The results demonstrate that
general levels of parental anger in the family environment (as indicated by the overall level of expressed anger by the parents
during the interactions) strongly moderates how depressed differ from non-depressed adolescents in terms of their anger, heart
rate and reactivity. Overall, the findings suggest that in depressed adolescents anger is much less adaptively attuned to
the environment, consistent with models that predict dysfunction in the regulation of anger that prevents depressed individuals
responding adaptively to their social environment.
- Content Type Journal Article
- DOI 10.1007/s10802-010-9473-3
- Authors
- Jennifer Jackson, ORYGEN Youth Health Research Centre and Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010 Australia
- Peter Kuppens, ORYGEN Youth Health Research Centre and Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010 Australia
- Lisa B. Sheeber, Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR USA
- Nicholas B. Allen, ORYGEN Youth Health Research Centre and Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010 Australia
- Journal Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2835
- Print ISSN 0091-0627