Trait anger, anger expression, and suicide attempts among adolescents and young adults: a prospective study.
Previous studies of the relationship between anger, anger expression, and suicidal behavior have been largely cross-sectional and have yielded mixed findings. In a prospective, naturalistic study, we examined how trait anger and anger expression influenced the likelihood of suicide attempts among 180 adolescents followed for up to 13.3 years after discharge from an inpatient psychiatry unit. Results showed that higher trait anger and anger expressed outwardly over the follow-up was related to increased likelihood of suicide attempts among boys. For girls, trait anger and both the inward and outward expression of anger moderated the risk for suicide attempts associated with major depression. These results are interpreted in light of theory regarding behavioral activation and behavioral inhibition systems.
Daniel
Stephanie S
SS
The Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA. ssdaniel@uncg.edu
Goldston
David B
DB
Erkanli
Alaattin
A
Franklin
Joseph C
JC
Mayfield
Andrew M
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000786:Anger; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D019260:Expressed Emotion; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult