The relationship between parental anger and behavior problems in children and adolescents

Two studies examined the relationship between parental trait anger, parenta l symptomatology, and children's and adolescents' emotional/behavioral prob lems. Results of Study 1 suggested that parental trait anger did not serve as a mediator between parental symptoms and children's emotional/behavioral problems. Study 2, however, suggested that parental trait anger did serve as a mediator between parental depression and adolescents' emotional/behavi oral problems. For internalizing behaviors, inward anger expression and tra it anger were mediators in father-son dyads, and outward anger expression w as a mediator in mother-daughter dyads. For externalizing behavior, inward anger expression was a mediator in father-son dyads, and outward anger expr ession was a mediator in mother-son dyads. These results suggest the import ance of examining parental dispositions toward anger in relation to the psy chological symptoms family members may experience.