Description

The State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI-24) is a psychometric self-report questionnaire designed to assess the ways individuals experience, express, and regulate anger. The instrument evaluates behavioral and emotional responses associated with anger, focusing on whether anger is expressed externally, suppressed internally, or consciously controlled.

The STAXI-24 consists of 24 items and includes three main dimensions: Anger Expression-Out, Anger Expression-In, and Anger Control. The instrument has been translated and culturally adapted into Greek through a rigorous back-translation procedure conducted by licensed psychologists, ensuring linguistic and cultural equivalence with the original version.

The scale is particularly useful in clinical psychology, behavioral research, and emotional regulation studies, as it provides information regarding individual differences in anger management patterns and their possible relationship with psychological functioning.

Data Analysis and Use

Data collected through the STAXI-24 can be used to examine individual patterns of anger expression and regulation. The instrument has been applied to a sample of 375 participants, including 175 university students and 200 public employees. The sample consisted of 35.2% men and 64.8% women, with a mean age of 31.7 years, and data collection was conducted in different regions of Greece, including Komotini, Kavala, and Katerini.

Statistical analysis of STAXI-24 results may include descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, factor analysis, and comparisons between different demographic or occupational groups. The collected data can be used to investigate relationships between anger expression patterns and psychological variables such as emotional regulation, interpersonal functioning, stress, and behavioral adjustment.

The instrument is useful in both research and clinical settings for identifying whether individuals tend to express anger outwardly, internalize anger, or apply strategies to control and regulate anger responses.

Objective

The primary objective of the STAXI-24 is to measure how individuals manage and express anger.

The scale evaluates three central aspects of anger regulation. Anger Expression-Out refers to the tendency to express anger externally through verbal or behavioral reactions. Anger Expression-In concerns the tendency to suppress or hold anger internally. Anger Control assesses the ability to regulate anger responses consciously and manage emotional reactions effectively.

Through these dimensions, the STAXI-24 provides an integrated assessment of anger-related behavioral patterns and emotional regulation strategies.

Structure and Content

The STAXI-24 consists of 24 items divided into three subscales. Each item is rated using a four-point Likert scale, where responses range from 1 = Almost Never to 4 = Almost Always. All items are positively worded.

The Anger Expression-Out subscale includes items 2, 7, 9, 12, 14, 19, 22, and 23. The Anger Expression-In subscale includes items 1, 3, 4, 8, 11, 18, 20, and 24. The Anger Control subscale includes items 5, 6, 10, 13, 16, 17, and 21.

The structure of the instrument reflects the theoretical distinction between different ways of experiencing and managing anger, allowing separate evaluation of anger expression and anger regulation.

Scoring

Each item is scored from 1 to 4, according to the participant’s response. Subscale scores are calculated separately for Anger Expression-Out, Anger Expression-In, and Anger Control.

The overall anger expression score is calculated using the formula:

Anger Expression-Out + Anger Expression-In – Anger Control + 16.

Higher scores indicate greater levels of anger expression according to the composite scoring procedure. Interpretation should consider the individual subscale results, as different patterns of anger expression may reflect different emotional regulation strategies.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical evaluation of the STAXI-24 includes examination of its factorial structure, reliability, and relationships with relevant psychological variables.

The three-factor structure of the instrument has been supported through statistical analyses conducted within the Greek population. These analyses confirmed the distinction between Anger Expression-Out, Anger Expression-In, and Anger Control dimensions and supported the reliability of the measure.

Further analyses may include comparisons between groups, correlations with emotional and behavioral variables, and regression models examining the predictive role of anger regulation patterns in psychological outcomes.

Validity

The STAXI-24 demonstrates good construct validity. The Greek adaptation follows recognized translation and cultural adaptation procedures based on the original instrument developed by Spielberger and colleagues.

The theoretical structure and distinction between anger expression and anger control dimensions are consistent with the conceptual framework underlying the instrument. The factor structure and clinical applications support its use as a measure of anger-related emotional processes.

Reliability

The reliability of the STAXI-24 has been examined through internal consistency analysis using Cronbach’s alpha.

The reported reliability coefficients are α = 0.72 for Anger Expression-Out, α = 0.66 for Anger Expression-In, and α = 0.85 for Anger Control.

Although an overall reliability coefficient is not explicitly reported due to the composite scoring formula, the individual subscales demonstrate adequate to high reliability, particularly the Anger Control dimension.

References

Spielberger, C. D., Johnson, E. H., Russell, S. F., Crane, R. J., Jacobs, G. A., & Worden, T. J. (1985). The experience and expression of anger: Construction and validation of an anger expression scale. In M. A. Chesney & R. H. Rosenman (Eds.), Anger and Hostility in Cardiovascular and Behavioral Disorders (pp. 5–30). New York: Hemisphere.