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The experience of anger in chronic illness: a preliminary investigation
T L Deshields1, J O Jenkins, R C Tait
1Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, St. Louis University School of Medicine, MO 63104.
Insights
Chronic illness patients, including those with essential hypertension, report more anger and health problems than healthy individuals. Diabetics experienced more current anger than hypertensive patients.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Essential hypertension and diabetes mellitus are significant chronic disease states.
- Understanding psychological factors like anger is crucial for managing chronic illnesses.
- Previous research has explored links between emotions and physical health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the experience of anger in patients with essential hypertension compared to other chronic disease groups and healthy controls.
- To examine differences in anger expression, assertiveness, and perceived health status across these groups.
- To explore the implications of anger experiences for chronic illness management.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study design was employed.
- Participants included patients with essential hypertension, diabetic patients, and normotensive healthy controls.
- Measures assessed anger expression, assertiveness, and perceptions of health status.
Main Results:
- Chronic patient groups (hypertensives and diabetics) reported significantly more anger and greater perceived health problems than normotensive controls.
- Both chronic patient groups showed a tendency towards more outward anger expression.
- Diabetic patients reported a higher level of current anger compared to hypertensive patients.
Conclusions:
- Anger experiences and outward expression are more prevalent in individuals with chronic diseases, including essential hypertension and diabetes.
- The findings suggest a potential role for anger management in the context of chronic illness.
- Further research is recommended to elucidate the specific relationship between anger and hypertension.
Abstract:
The experience of anger was investigated in relation to essential hypertension, in particular, and chronic disease states, in general. A hypertensive patient group was compared to a chronic disease control group (diabetics) and a nonpatient normotensive control group on measures of anger expression, assertiveness, and perceptions of health status. The chronic patient groups differed significantly from the nonpatient controls in reporting more anger in general, greater frequency of anger experiences, and a tendency to express anger more outwardly. The chronic patient groups also reported greater severity of health problems. Comparisons between the hypertensives and diabetics revealed a greater level of current anger among diabetics. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for anger and chronic illness. Suggestions for future research regarding anger and hypertension also are made.