State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory – 2 (STAXI-2)

The STAXI-2 is a self-report measure which uses a 4-point rating scale to assess both the intensity of anger at a particular time and the frequency with which anger is experienced, expressed and controlled. It is scored by hand using a two part carbonless form. The booklet contains a scoring grid for recording raw scores, percentiles and T-scores, along with a profile for graphing percentile scores. All raw score conversions are available by gender.

Key Features:

• This 57 item questionnaire was developed to assess the intensity of anger as an emotional state (State Anger) and the disposition to experience angry feelings as a personality trait (Trait Anger) and to measure the way these two components contribute to medical conditions such as hypertension and coronary heart disease.
• The manual discusses the potential effects of anger on blood pressure, coronary heart disease and other medical and psychological disorders.
• The metric clearly distinguishes between the experience of anger from anger expression and anger control which is crucial to investigate the impact on mental and physical conditions.

Areas Measured

STAXI-2 includes six scales plus an Anger Expression Index (an overall measure of total anger expression). The six scales are as follows:

The State Anger Scale assesses the intensity of anger as an emotional state at a particular time. It has three sub-scales.

The Trait Anger Scale assesses how often angry feelings are experienced over time. It has two sub-scales.

The Anger Expression and Anger Control scales assess four relatively independent traits:

• Expression of angry feelings towards other persons or objects in the environment (Anger Expression Out).
• Holding in or suppressing angry feelings (Anger Expression-In).
• Controlling angry feelings by preventing the expression of angry feelings towards other persons or objects in the environment (Anger Control-Out).
• Controlling angry feelings by calming down or cooling off (Anger Control-In).