RELATIONSHIPS AMONG SELF-EFFICACY, OPTIMISM, TRAIT ANGER, AND ANGER EXPRESSION

Much contemporary research has focused on the correlation of anger wit h pathological thinking and behavior in clinical populations. Thus, da ta were gathered to describe the relationship of trait anger and modes of anger expression with rational health-promoting ways of thinking ( i.e., dispositional optimism and self-efficacy) in a sample of 720 col lege students. Dispositional optimism and self-efficacy were positivel y correlated with a tendency to express anger through discussion and n egatively correlated with a tendency to suppress anger, express anger outwardly in a blaming way, experience physical discomforts when angry , and be chronically angry. Health promotion and counseling implicatio ns were discussed.