Current approaches to assessing and managing anger and aggression

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to systematically review previously published studies conducted in Türkiye on the assessment and management of anger and aggression among adolescents and young adults and to present the general characteristics of the selected studies.
METHODS: This study examined theses and articles published in Türkiye between 2013 and 2023 on the subject among adolescents and young adults aged 14–25. Online search engines (Google Scholar, YÖK) were used to access the studies. The keywords "anger," "anger management," "anger management training," "anger control," "anger control training," and "aggression" were used when searching databases. The PRISMA checklist, preferred for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, was used when reviewing studies in this systematic review.
RESULTS: A total of 1,354 studies were retrieved through electronic databases. Of these, 1,261 studies that did not meet the criteria were removed. Ultimately, 21 studies were systematically presented. It was found that the Trait Anger-Anger Style Scale is the most widely used measurement tool for assessing anger, while the Aggression Scale, the Reactive-Pro-active Aggression Scale, and the Buss-Perry Aggression Scale have been used for assessing aggression. Cognitive-behavioral and skill-based approaches to managing anger and aggression in adolescents and young adults have been determined to be the most widely studied and empirically validated treatment approaches.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the results of this systematic review are crucial for mental health and psychiatric nurses to know and use appropriate assessment tools when assessing individuals with anger expression problems. Mental health and psychiatric nurses' knowledge of cognitive behavioral therapy-based anger management interventions and their ability to integrate these methods into nursing care will improve the quality of healthcare. Further studies utilizing techniques from different approaches to anger management are recommended.

Keywords: Aggression, aggression management, anger, anger management