The Relation of Depressive Symptoms to Anger Arousal, Aggression, Submissiveness, and Anger Suppression

Abstract

Past research has clearly demonstrated that depressive symptoms are associated with anger arousal and anger suppression. However, the literature is mixed in terms of whether depressive symptoms are associated with aggressive, assertive behavioral responses, or with submissive responses. The purposes of this proposed study would be to further confirm already-established relationships among depressive symptoms, anger arousal and anger suppression, as well as to investigate and clarify any relations between symptoms and behavioral responses to anger. Another goal would be to determine which of the above potential associates to depressive symptoms are best predicted by symptoms. It was hypothesized that findings pertaining to depressive symptoms, anger, and anger suppression would confirm past research, and that symptoms would be more highly correlated with submissive behavior than outward aggressive behavior. Participants in the study would include undergraduate students who, for the purposes of a larger study, completed scales measuring levels of depressive symptoms, anger arousal, and likely responses to anger. If expected results were confirmed, such findings could be utilized in clinical settings to better detect depressive moods as well as to predict anger tendencies.