Religiousness/Spirituality and anger management in community-dwelling older persons

Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2014 Apr;35(4):283-91. doi: 10.3109/01612840.2014.890472.

Abstract

Mismanaged anger is associated with adverse health outcomes. This study examined whether dimensions of religiousness/spirituality could predict healthy anger management in a sample of 82 community-dwelling older Americans. A correlational research design was employed using the Deffenbacher Anger Scale and the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality. Higher scores on Forgiveness, Daily Spiritual Experiences, Religiousness/Spirituality as Coping, and Self-Ranking of Religiousness/Spirituality were correlated with healthier anger management; however forgiveness was the only significant predictor in the regression analysis. Interventions to facilitate forgiveness may promote healthy anger management and minimize the adverse health effects of mismanaged anger.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / psychology*
  • Anger*
  • Expressed Emotion*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Independent Living / psychology*
  • Male
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data
  • Religion and Psychology*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Spirituality*
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Surveys and Questionnaires