The relationship between anger-coping styles and lifestyle behaviors in teenagers

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between anger-coping,styles (anger expression and anger suppression) and lifestyle behaviors (physical activity and consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine) in adolescents. Methods: A sample of 411 adolescents (198 males: 101 white, 97 black; 213 females: 101 white, 112 black) aged 13-20 years (mean age 15.6 years) completed the Anger Expression Scale and brief self-report questionnaires assessing physical activity (weekly amount, comparison with peers) and consumption of alcohol (frequency and amount over the past 2 weeks), cigarettes (amount over past 2 weeks), and caffeine (from coffee and soda over past week). Results: Correlational and Chi-square analyses showed teenagers high in anger suppression reported consuming alcohol more frequently, spending fewer hours per week in aerobic activity, and being less physically active than their peers. Teenagers high in anger expression reported consuming more caffeinated soda and coffee. Conclusions: Results suggest that excessive anger suppression or expression may be associated with an imprudent lifestyle relatively early in life. (C) Society for Adolescent Medicine, 2000.