Analysis of the Scale

The Dimensions of Anger Reactions Scale [DAR-5] is a brief and psychometrically sound measure of anger, developed by Forbes and colleagues in 2014. The scale has also been shown to be sensitive to detecting reactions related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), making it useful for monitoring and evaluating treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Scale

The DAR-5 aims to assess the frequency, intensity, duration, aggression, and impact of anger on an individual’s social functioning over the past four weeks.

Scoring of the Items

This scale includes 5 items that evaluate anger experiences. Each item has 5 possible responses, scored from 1 (“Never or almost never”) to 5 (“Always or almost always”).

Statistical Analysis

The DAR-5 yields a total score by summing the scores of each item, resulting in a range from 5 to 25. Higher scores indicate greater anger. Specifically, a score of 12 or higher suggests problematic anger.

Validity and Reliability

The original English version demonstrates excellent reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha ranging from α = 0.86 to α = 0.91. It also shows convergent validity with scales that assess the temperamental dimension of anger.

Reference

Forbes, D., Alkemade, N., Mitchell, D., Elhai, J.D., McHugh, T., Bates, G., Novaco, R.W., … Lewis, V. (2014). Utility of the Dimensions of Anger Reactions-5 (DAR-5) scale as a brief anger measure. Depression and Anxiety, 31, 166–173. doi:10.1002/da.22148.

For the development and analysis of research data based on this scale, and for further information, contact the DatAnalysis team.

Tags: Anger Scale, Validity, Reliability