Anger, Hostility, and Depression in Domestically Violent Versus Generally Assaultive Men and Nonviolent Control Subjects

• NCJ Number: 110767
• Journal: Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1988) Pages: 17-24
• Author(s): R D Maiuro; T S Cahn; P P Vitaliano; B C Wagner; J B Zegree
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Anger, hostility, and depression were examined across four groups: a clinical sample of domestically violent men, two samples of more generally assaultive men, and a nonviolent control group.

Abstract

All subjects (N = 129) were assessed using the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression Inventory. The domestically violent men and the generally assaultive men evidenced significantly higher levels of anger and hostility than the control subjects. The anger and hostility scores were very similar in the domestically violent and the generally assaultive men. However, the domestically violent men were more likely to be significantly depressed. The findings support the idea that anger control is a key issue in the psychological profile of domestically violent men and indicate the need for clinical attention to depression as well as anger. (Publisher abstract)