Determination of Trait Anger Level and Anger Expression Style in Individuals with Mental Illness: A Descriptive Study

Objective: Anger levels and anger expression styles in mental illnesses have been frequently studied. When faced with such anger, individuals resort to various positive and negative styles of anger expression, such as anger-out, anger-in, and anger-control. It has been reported that individuals with mental illness suffer from an inability to control their anger and frequent temper tantrums and consequently experience problems in social life, within the family, and in medical facilities where they are treated The purpose of this study is to determine the trait anger level and anger expression style of individuals with mental illness. Material and Methods: This descriptive study consist of 120 individuals diagnosed with mental illness. This study was conducted in psychiatry outpatient clinics between April and September 2024. Descriptional Features Form, Trait Anger Scale (TAS) and Anger Expression Style Scale were utilized to collect data. Results: The total mean score of the individuals diagnosed with mental illness were 19.12±2.23 on the anger-in subscale, 20.60±4.14 on the anger-out subscale, 14.20±5.29 on the anger-control subscale, and 25.36±5.28 on the TAS. Conclusion: The study indicates that the individuals' trait anger levels were above moderate. Mental health and psychiatric nurses should prioritize identifying factors that increase anger levels and negative anger management in individuals with mental illnesses. It is advisable to create interventions aimed at decreasing the anger level in order to enhance the ability of individuals with mental illness to anger-control.