Mediating Role of Anger Rumination in the Associations between Mindfulness, Anger-In, and Trait Anger
Affiliation(s)
1 Graduate School of Psychology, Kansai University, Osaka, Japan. 2 Institute of Education, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan. 3 Faculty of Sociology, Kansai University, Osaka, Japan.
1 Graduate School of Psychology, Kansai University, Osaka, Japan. 2 Institute of Education, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan. 3 Faculty of Sociology, Kansai University, Osaka, Japan.
ABSTRACT
While there are several studies that have investigated the specific relationships between mindfulness, anger rumination, anger-in, and trait anger, no study has investigated all these relationships simultaneously. Therefore, this study examined all relationships between these variables employing a cross-sectional design. Consistent with previous research, we hypothesized that (1) mindfulness will reduce anger rumination, (2) anger rumination will facilitate anger-in and trait anger, and (3) mindfulness will indirectly alleviate anger-in and trait anger through reducing anger rumination. The total of 366 Japanese undergraduates (M = 20.18; SD = 2.27; 51.1% female; 48.9% male) had completed the questionnaires. The results of this study revealed that (1) mindfulness reduced anger rumination, (2) anger rumination facilitated anger-in and trait anger, and (3) mindfulness indirectly alleviated anger-in and trait anger through reducing anger rumination. Although the mediating role of anger rumination was discussed in previous study, it was not based on data. The current study verifies the assumptions by previous study and suggests that anger rumination may be a key factor in treating problems of anger-in and trait anger. We provide new evidence contributing to improved treatment options by specifying the relationships between mindfulness, anger rumination, anger-in, and trait anger.
While there are several studies that have investigated the specific relationships between mindfulness, anger rumination, anger-in, and trait anger, no study has investigated all these relationships simultaneously. Therefore, this study examined all relationships between these variables employing a cross-sectional design. Consistent with previous research, we hypothesized that (1) mindfulness will reduce anger rumination, (2) anger rumination will facilitate anger-in and trait anger, and (3) mindfulness will indirectly alleviate anger-in and trait anger through reducing anger rumination. The total of 366 Japanese undergraduates (M = 20.18; SD = 2.27; 51.1% female; 48.9% male) had completed the questionnaires. The results of this study revealed that (1) mindfulness reduced anger rumination, (2) anger rumination facilitated anger-in and trait anger, and (3) mindfulness indirectly alleviated anger-in and trait anger through reducing anger rumination. Although the mediating role of anger rumination was discussed in previous study, it was not based on data. The current study verifies the assumptions by previous study and suggests that anger rumination may be a key factor in treating problems of anger-in and trait anger. We provide new evidence contributing to improved treatment options by specifying the relationships between mindfulness, anger rumination, anger-in, and trait anger.
Cite this paper
Takebe, M. , Takahashi, F. and Sato, H. (2015) Mediating Role of Anger Rumination in the Associations between Mindfulness, Anger-In, and Trait Anger. Psychology, 6, 948-953. doi: 10.4236/psych.2015.68093.
Takebe, M. , Takahashi, F. and Sato, H. (2015) Mediating Role of Anger Rumination in the Associations between Mindfulness, Anger-In, and Trait Anger. Psychology, 6, 948-953. doi: 10.4236/psych.2015.68093.
References
[1] Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J., & Toney, L. (2006). Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness. Assessment, 13, 27-45.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1073191105283504 [2] Borders, A., Earleywine, M., & Jajodia, A. (2010). Could Mindfulness Decrease Anger, Hostility, and Aggression by Decreasing Rumination? Aggressive Behavior, 36, 28-44.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ab.20327 [3] Diebold, J. C. (2003). Mindfulness in the Machine: A Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for the Reduction of Driving Anger. Dissertation Abstracts International, 64, 5212. [4] Hatta, T., Ohbuchi, K., & Hatta, J. (2013). Development of Japanese Version of Anger Rumination Scale. Japanese Journal of Applied Psychology, 38, 231-238. [5] Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff Criteria for Fit Indexes in Covariance Structure Analysis: Conventional Criteria versus New Alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6, 1-55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118 [6] Jorgensen, R. S., & Kolodziej, M. E. (2007). Suppressed Anger, Evaluative Threat, and Cardiovascular Reactivity: A Tripartite Profile Approach. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 66, 102-108. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2007.03.015 [7] Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life. New York: Hyperion Books. [8] Martin, R. C., & Dahlen, E. R. (2005). Cognitive Emotion Regulation in the Prediction of Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Anger. Personality and Individual Differences, 39, 1249-1260.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2005.06.004 [9] Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Morrow, J. (1991). A Prospective Study of Depression and Distress Following a Natural Disaster: The 1989 Lorma Prieta Earthquake. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 105-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.61.1.115 [10] Lane, J. D., Seskevich, J. E., &Pieper, C. F. (2007). Brief Meditation Training Can Improve Stress and Negative Mood. Alternatives Therapies in Health and Medicine, 13, 38-44. [11] Owen, J. M. (2011). Transdiagnostic Cognitive Processes in High Trait Anger. Clinical Psychology Review, 31, 193-202. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.10.003 [12] Silva, J. (2007). Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for the Reduction of Anger in Married Men. Unpublished Doctorial Dissertation, New York: Hofstra University. [13] Spielberger, C. D. (1988). Manual for the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources. [14] Spielberger, C. D. (1999). Manual for the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources. [15] Sugiura, Y., Sato, A., Ito, Y., & Murakami, H. (2012). Development and Validation of the Japanese Version of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. Mindfulness, 3, 85-94.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12671-011-0082-1 [16] Sukhodolsky, D. G., Golub, A., & Cromwell, E. N. (2001). Development and Validation of the Anger Rumination Scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 31, 689-700.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(00)00171-9 [17] Suzuki, T., & Haruki, Y. (1994). The Relationship between Anger and Circulatory Disease. Japanese Journal of Health Psychology, 7, 1-13. [18] Trapnell, P. D., & Campbell, J. D. (1999). Private Self-Consciousness and the Five-Factor Model of Personality: Distinguishing Rumination from Reflection. Journal of Personality Social Psychology, 76, 284-304. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.76.2.284 [19] Trew, J. L., & Alden, L. E. (2009). Predicting Anger in Social Anxiety: The Mediating Role of Rumination. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47, 1079-1084. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2009.07.019 [20] Wright, S., Day, A., & Howells, K. (2009). Mindfulness and the Treatment of Anger Problems. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 14, 396-401. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2009.06.008
[1] Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J., & Toney, L. (2006). Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness. Assessment, 13, 27-45.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1073191105283504 [2] Borders, A., Earleywine, M., & Jajodia, A. (2010). Could Mindfulness Decrease Anger, Hostility, and Aggression by Decreasing Rumination? Aggressive Behavior, 36, 28-44.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ab.20327 [3] Diebold, J. C. (2003). Mindfulness in the Machine: A Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for the Reduction of Driving Anger. Dissertation Abstracts International, 64, 5212. [4] Hatta, T., Ohbuchi, K., & Hatta, J. (2013). Development of Japanese Version of Anger Rumination Scale. Japanese Journal of Applied Psychology, 38, 231-238. [5] Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff Criteria for Fit Indexes in Covariance Structure Analysis: Conventional Criteria versus New Alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6, 1-55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118 [6] Jorgensen, R. S., & Kolodziej, M. E. (2007). Suppressed Anger, Evaluative Threat, and Cardiovascular Reactivity: A Tripartite Profile Approach. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 66, 102-108. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2007.03.015 [7] Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life. New York: Hyperion Books. [8] Martin, R. C., & Dahlen, E. R. (2005). Cognitive Emotion Regulation in the Prediction of Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Anger. Personality and Individual Differences, 39, 1249-1260.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2005.06.004 [9] Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Morrow, J. (1991). A Prospective Study of Depression and Distress Following a Natural Disaster: The 1989 Lorma Prieta Earthquake. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 105-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.61.1.115 [10] Lane, J. D., Seskevich, J. E., &Pieper, C. F. (2007). Brief Meditation Training Can Improve Stress and Negative Mood. Alternatives Therapies in Health and Medicine, 13, 38-44. [11] Owen, J. M. (2011). Transdiagnostic Cognitive Processes in High Trait Anger. Clinical Psychology Review, 31, 193-202. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.10.003 [12] Silva, J. (2007). Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for the Reduction of Anger in Married Men. Unpublished Doctorial Dissertation, New York: Hofstra University. [13] Spielberger, C. D. (1988). Manual for the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources. [14] Spielberger, C. D. (1999). Manual for the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources. [15] Sugiura, Y., Sato, A., Ito, Y., & Murakami, H. (2012). Development and Validation of the Japanese Version of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. Mindfulness, 3, 85-94.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12671-011-0082-1 [16] Sukhodolsky, D. G., Golub, A., & Cromwell, E. N. (2001). Development and Validation of the Anger Rumination Scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 31, 689-700.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(00)00171-9 [17] Suzuki, T., & Haruki, Y. (1994). The Relationship between Anger and Circulatory Disease. Japanese Journal of Health Psychology, 7, 1-13. [18] Trapnell, P. D., & Campbell, J. D. (1999). Private Self-Consciousness and the Five-Factor Model of Personality: Distinguishing Rumination from Reflection. Journal of Personality Social Psychology, 76, 284-304. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.76.2.284 [19] Trew, J. L., & Alden, L. E. (2009). Predicting Anger in Social Anxiety: The Mediating Role of Rumination. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47, 1079-1084. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2009.07.019 [20] Wright, S., Day, A., & Howells, K. (2009). Mindfulness and the Treatment of Anger Problems. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 14, 396-401. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2009.06.008