The validity of multidimensional self-report anger and hostility measures

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychometrics
• Personality Psychology

Background:

• Accurate measurement of anger and hostility is crucial for understanding psychological health.
• Existing multidimensional anger and hostility inventories require validation for specific subscales.
• The Buss Durkee Hostility Inventory's abbreviated subscales need assessment for reliability and validity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the convergent and discriminant validity of multidimensional anger and hostility measures.
• To validate abbreviated neurotic hostility (NH) and reactive hostility (RH) subscales of the Buss Durkee Hostility Inventory.
• To explore the factor structure of various anger assessment tools.

Main Methods:

• Administered multiple anger and hostility scales to 120 adult participants.
• Included abbreviated Buss Durkee Reaction (RH) and Neurotic Hostility (NH) subscales.
• Utilized intercorrelation matrices and factor analysis to evaluate validity and structure.

Main Results:

• Convergent and discriminant validity were supported for most measures.
• Exceptions included the Anger-in/Brood subscale of the Multidimensional Anger Inventory (MAI) and the Anger-out (FO) scale.
• Factor analysis identified three distinct factors: anger experience/hostility, verbal/adaptive anger expression, and maladaptive/physical anger expression.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully validated several multidimensional anger and hostility measures.
• Findings support the use of abbreviated NH and RH subscales in specific contexts.
• Future research should focus on the nuanced components of anger experience and expression/suppression.