Anger assessment with the STAXI-CA: psychometric properties of a new instrument for children and adolescents

A Spanish adaptation of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory for children and adolescent population, was derived from the original English adult inventory to assess the experience, expression and control of anger in Spanish children and adolescents (STAXI; Spielberger, 1988). A sample of 2191 subjects, 940 female and 1251 male, between 7 and 17 years old from several urban settings participated in the study. Items were selected and analysed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and a 32-item questionnaire in 4 dimensions and eight 4-item facets was obtained: Anger-State (Verbal and Physical Anger, Anger Feelings), Anger-Trait (Anger Temperament, Anger Reactions), Anger-Expression (Anger-Expression/In, Anger-Expression/Out), and Anger-Control (Anger-Control/In, Anger-Control/Out). The factor structure was fairly robust, both for boys and girls, while internal consistency and test–retest reliability was acceptable, except for Anger-Expression facets. Convergent and discriminant validity was studied in the adolescent subgroup in regard to measures of aggressiveness, sociability and sensation-seeking personality, as well as three and five factor personality models previously validated in the same cultural context.