An investigation of violent and nonviolent adolescent' families in terms in terms of family fuctioning, anger and anger expression

The purpose of this study is (a) to investigate the families of violent andnonviolent adolescents in terms of family functioning, trait anger and anger expression,and (b) to compare psychological problems, alcohol usage and delinquent behaviors.The sampling is consisted of families of both violent (n=54) and nonviolentadolescents (n=54) whose age range is between 14 and 18. In order to investigate theanger levels and anger expressions of families? State-Trait Anger Scale (STAS) wasutilized. Additionally, McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD) was utilized toinvestigate families? functions. Apart from these tools, a questionnaire was administeredin order to obtain demographic data from families. In accordance with the purpose ofthe study, data were analyzed with ?t? test and chi-square test.The results indicated that families of violent adolescents had more deficits and conflictsin problem solving, communication, role assignment, affective responsiveness, affectiveinvolvement, behavior control and general functioning when compared to the familiesof nonviolent adolescents. When analyzed in terms of anger, families of violentadolescents were significantly more ?trait anger?, ?anger-in? and ?anger-out? whencompared to the families of nonviolent adolescents. Families of nonviolent adolescentshad more ?anger control? than the other group. Families in the violent group reportedmore problem behaviors, more use of alcohol and more delinquent behaviors thancontrol group.Keywords: Adolescence, Violence, Family Functioning, Anger, Anger Expression.