Self-Reported Dysfunctional Anger in Men and Women at a Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic

Gender differences in anger and aggression are disputed in the literature. This study examined self-reported gender differences in a clinical sample of individuals referred for concerns about dysfunctional anger on measures of anger and aggression. The sample consisted of adults aged 18 years or over (N = 543; 90 [17%] women and 453 [83%] men) who presented at an outpatient anger clinic for treatment of their dysfunctional anger between 2003 and 2014. We found that women in the psychiatric outpatient sample significantly outscored men on many of the anger variables and reported similar levels of aggression, which contradicts previous reports in nonclinical populations. These results are of clinical importance because women’s dysfunctional anger may be under-reported. Dysfunctional anger screening and treatment may need to be adjusted accordingly based on gender.