An analysis of the relationship between aggression and anger levels of the adolescents living in orphanages

Abstract

In this study, the relationship (correlation) between aggression and anger levels of the adolescents living in orphanages was analysed. The participants in the research study comprised of a total of 133 adolescents including 72 females and 61 males living in Istanbul, in Child Support Centers in Kemerburgaz, Florya, Tepekent, Alibeykoy, Beylikduzu and Children`s Homes in Halkali, Kasimpasa, Kocamustafapasa and Zeytinburnu. The participants were selected through the method of random sampling. In the study “Aggression Inventory” developed by Olweus and adapted by Gladue, “Trait Anger and Anger Expression Style Scale” developed by Spielberger and “Personal Information Form” prepared by the researcher that carried out the study were used to measure the aggression levels of adolescents, to identify the anger levels of adolescents and to collect the data related to the variables of the study, respectively. Data results obtained at the end of the study show that the scores the females got from physical aggression inventory were relatively lower than those of males. It was observed that the scores the adolescents living in Child Support Center got from trait anger, anger expression style and physical aggression scales were relatively higher than those of the ones living in orphanages. Demographic information such as duration of stay in orphanages, grade at school, peer relationships were not found to be correlated with aggression and anger levels of adolescents. And what is more, it was concluded that as the adolescents got higher scores from the sub-scale of anger expression style, so did they from the aggression scales.