Anger expression, coping styles, and well-being

Abstract

This study examined the role of anger expression in the experience of stress, coping with stress and psychological and physical well-being. Based on a sample of 268 Singaporeans, the results, using structural equation modelling, indicated that anger expression was significantly related to reported stress, mechanisms for coping with stress and psychological wellbeing. Higher levels of anger expression were associated with higher levels of stress as well as lower use of active coping. Active coping was in turn positively related to psychological well-being. In addition, higher levels of anger expression showed a direct negative relationship with psychological well-being as did higher levels of stress. In contrast, the only significant predictor of physical well-being was reported stress, with higher levels of stress related to lower levels of physical well-being. The implications of these results for understanding the role of anger expression in psychological and physical wellbeing are discussed.