The Mediating Role of Anger in the Relationship Between Automatic Thoughts and Physical Aggression in Adolescents

Objective: This study aimed to examine the mediating role of anger in the relationship between, automatic thoughts and physical aggression in adolescents. Materials and Methods: The study included 224 adolescents in the 9th grade of 3 different high schools in central Burdur during the 2011-2012 academic year. Participants completed the Aggression Questionnaire and Automatic Thoughts Scale in their classrooms during counseling sessions. Data were analyzed using simple and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: There were positive correlations between the adolescents' automatic thoughts, and physical aggression, and anger. According to regression analysis, automatic thoughts effectively predicted the level of physical aggression (b=0.233, P < 0.001)) and anger (b=0.325, P < 0.001). Analysis of the mediating role of anger showed that anger frilly mediated the relationship between automatic thoughts and physical aggression (Sobel z = 5.646, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Anger fully mediated the relationship between automatic thoughts and physical aggression. Providing adolescents with anger management skills training is very important for the prevention of physical aggression. Such training programs should include components related to the development of an awareness of dysfunctional and anger-triggering automatic thoughts, and how to change them. As the study group included adolescents from Burdur, the findings can only be generalized to groups with similar characteristics.