"Acting out" and "acting in" as behavioral responses to stress: a qualitative and quantitative study.
In a sample of 270 depressed patients, we describe some behaviors in response to stress. One third acknowledged "acting out" behaviors--angry, destructive acts and "out of control" behaviors. Four fifths acknowledged "acting in" behaviors--most commonly withdrawal. As a percentage of subjects acknowledged both response styles (with alternate expression influenced by situation), we developed a dimensional self-report measure within a subsample of 177 who attended a follow-up reassessment. Assignment to four groups with contrasting expressions of "acting out" and "acting in" scores demonstrated differences in age, diagnostic status, age of onset of depression, and self-injurious behaviors.
Parker
G
G
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Roy
K
K
Wilhelm
K
K
Austin
M P
MP
Mitchell
P
P
Hadzi-Pavlovic
D
D
D000184:Acting Out; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000786:Anger; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology