The relation between multidimensional school anger and stressors among elementary and junior high school children

摘要

This study investigated the relation between anger in the school context and stressors among elementary and junior high school children. The responses of 186 elementary school students and 294 junior high school students on the Japanese version of the Multidimensional School Anger Inventory, which consisted of Anger Experience, Hostility, Destructive Expression and Positive Coping subscales, and items for the stressors related to teacher, academics, friend, parent and self, were used.Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that teacher-related stressor significantly increased Hostility and Destructive Expression at school, and that Hostility moderated some of the impact of other stressors on behavioral expression of anger. Academic stressor had a significant effect on Destructive Aggression at junior high school age. Non-school-related stressors (parents-related and self-related) also had effects on cognitive and behavioral anger, depending on participantsu27 gender and age level. Thus, together with building teacher-student rapport and reducing school stress, comprehensive approaches which include families and local communities would be needed to deal with anger-related problems and their prevention at school.