Refinement of the Attitudes Toward Anger Management Scale

130 Pages·2017·1.42 MB·English

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Dissertations
Summer 8-2016
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David Jerome Boudreaux
University of Southern Mississippi
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The University of Southern Mississippi

REFINEMENT OF THE ATTITUDES TOWARD ANGER MANAGEMENT SCALE

by

David Jerome Boudreaux

Abstract of a Dissertation
Submitted to the Graduate School
of The University of Southern Mississippi
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

August 2016
ABSTRACT

REFINEMENT OF THE ATTITUDES TOWARD ANGER MANAGEMENT SCALE

by David Jerome Boudreaux

August 2016

Identifying and addressing potential problems with anger before they result in
adverse consequences could be beneficial in improving quality of life and minimizing the
disruptive effects of anger on one’s social environment. Excessive anger or anger which
is expressed in maladaptive ways present particular challenges for college students due to
their developmental stage, stressors, and environmental demands. Unfortunately, too few
college students utilize available mental health resources. Individuals with problem
anger are influenced by unique factors that affect help seeking decisions. A better
understanding of these factors could facilitate outreach and improve service utilization.
This study continued the development of the Attitudes Toward Anger Management Scale
(ATAMS), a brief self-report measure designed to assess attitudes toward anger
management services. Confirmatory factor analysis was utilized with a sample of
undergraduate volunteers (N = 326) to validate the two-factor structure of the ATAMS.
Convergent validity of the ATAMS was supported through finding bivariate correlations
with measures of similar constructs. Evidence of 3-4 week test-retest reliability
suggested adequate short-term stability of scores. Support for criterion validity was
provided by demonstrating that the ATAMS predicts self-rated intentions to engage in
anger management.

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COPYRIGHT BY
DAVID JEROME BOUDREAUX
2015
REFINEMENT OF THE ATTITUDES TOWARD
ANGER MANAGEMENT SCALE
by
David Jerome Boudreaux
A Dissertation
Submitted to the Graduate School
and the Department of Psychology
at The University of Southern Mississippi
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Approved:
________________________________________________
Dr. Eric R. Dahlen, Committee Chair
Associate Professor, Psychology
________________________________________________
Dr. Emily Bullock Yowell, Committee Member
Associate Professor, Psychology
________________________________________________
Dr. Michael B. Madson, Committee Member
Associate Professor, Psychology
________________________________________________
Dr. Richard S. Mohn, Committee Member
Associate Professor, Psychology
________________________________________________
Dr. Karen S. Coats
Dean of the Graduate School

August 2016August 2016
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to extend my gratitude to the members of the dissertation committee,
Dr. Emily Yowell, Dr. Michael Madson, and Dr. Richard Mohn for their valuable
feedback throughout this process. Lastly, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to
the committee chair, Dr. Eric Dahlen. Without his guidance, support, and
encouragement, this project would not have been possible.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………...… ii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS…………………………………………………………….... iii

LIST OF TABLES…………………...………………………………………………...... vi

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS………...………………………………………………..... vii

CHAPTER

I. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………..... 1

Problem Anger
Correlates of Anger
Evidence-Based Treatments for Dysfunctional Anger
Readiness for Change
Barriers to Engagement in Anger Management Services
Dysfunctional Anger among College Students
Predictors of Help Seeking
Psychological Mindedness
Help Seeking for Professional Mental Health Services
Established Measures of Help Seeking
Help Seeking Measures for Anger Management
The Present Study

II. METHODOLOGY……………………………………………………...…41

Participants
Instruments
Procedure
Analyses

III. RESULTS………………………………………………………………... 50

Data Screening
Confirmatory Factor Analysis
Bivariate Correlations
Canonical Correlations
Test-Retest Reliability
Means Comparison

IV. DISCUSSION……………………………………………………………. 64

iv
Limitations
Implications and Future Directions

APPENDIXES………………………………………………………….………………. 78

REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………. 95

v
LIST OF TABLES

Table

1. Range of Scores, Means, Standard Deviations, and Alpha Coefficients……..… 51

2. Confirmatory Factor Analysis Fit Statistics..………………………………….... 56

3. Intercorrelations among All Variables……….…..………………………...…… 58

4. Three to Four-Week Test-Retest Correlations………………………………..… 62

vi
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure

1. 13-item Two Factor Version of the ATAMS…………………………..……..… 53

2. 17-item Two Factor Version of the ATAMS..…………………………..…….... 54

3. 17-item One Factor Version of the ATAMS………….…………………...…… 55

4. Standardized Canonical Coefficients and Canonical Correlation Value for the
First Canonical Function concerning the Correlation between the Factors of the
ATAMS and the Questions of the CAMQ………….………………………..… 60

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