Anger Expression and Blood Pressure in Adolescents

Somatovisceral influences on emotional development

Frameworks of emotional development have tended to focus on how environmental factors shape children's emotion understanding. However, individual experiences of emotion represent a complex interplay between both external environmental inputs and internal somatovisceral signaling. Here, we discuss the importance of afferent signals and coordination between central and peripheral mechanisms in affective response processing. We propose that incorporating somatovisceral theories of emotions into frameworks of emotional development can inform how children understand emotions in themselves and others. We highlight promising directions for future research on emotional development incorporating this perspective, namely afferent cardiac processing and interoception, immune activation, physiological synchrony, and social touch.

Estimating the training effect through the levels of trait anger, anger expression, and coping with the stress of private security guards

BACKGROUND

Professionally, private security guards are expected to manage their anger and stress successfully.

OBJECTIVE

The primary purpose of this study is to determine stress and anger levels of private security guards working in the Ankara Electricity, Gas and Bus Operations Organization. The secondary aim of this research is to determine the effectiveness of the training program given to private security guards within the scope of anger and stress control. The effects of training on 690 private security guards who participated in the training program were investigated.

METHODS

In the first part of the study, the validity and reliability of the Trait Anger, Anger Expression Scale and Coping with Stress Scale were investigated, and in the second part, the effectiveness of training given to 690 private security guards was examined. Also, as a comparison group, 201 private security guards who did not participate in the training were reached and the scales were applied.

RESULTS

The results showed that private security guards had an inability to cope with stress and anger was triggered easily. The average treatment effect was E[Y(1)   Y(0)| X] = -0.111 and statistically significant. It shows that training had a significant effect on anger. Anger decreased when stress-coping behaviours increased and the training was effective.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important that training about anger and stress control should be given to security forces at regular intervals.

A Proposed Study on how Far Anger Contributes to Initiating Essential Hypertension in Canadian Caucasian Adults with a Family History of Hypertension

The goal of the present correlational study is to test the hypothesis that anger initiates essential hypertension in Canadian Caucasian adults with a family history of hypertension. The study population will include a cohort of 100 men and women aged 25 to 45 years at enrollment recruited from the University of Ottawa General and Civic Hospitals. Participants who are normotensives will be included in the study given that they have a family history of hypertension. The Spielberger State Trait Anger Expression inventory (STAXI) scales will assess the three main dimensions of anger: State, Trait and Anger Expression. Using a semiautomated blood pressure machine, blood pressure measurements will be conducted by the attending nurse. It is hypothesized that during the three year study, participants with higher STAXI scores will more likely develop hypertension. Results obtained from the present study are expected to highlight the significant contribution of anger as a modifiable behavioral risk factor in the pathogenesis of hypertension.

The relationships among anxiety, anger, and blood pressure in children

Relationships between anger and anxiety have been examined in adults but less frequently in children. This investigation explored relationships among trait anxiety, trait anger, anger expression patterns, and blood pressure in children. The participants were 264 third- through sixth-grade children from five elementary schools who completed Jacob's Pediatric Anger and Anxiety Scale and Jacob's Pediatric Anger Expression Scale and had their blood pressure measured. Data were analyzed using descriptive and correlational statistics and hierarchical regression. Results have implications for the way in which anxiety and anger are perceived in children and the importance of teaching children to deal with emotions.