The experience and expression of anger in divorced mothers: Effects on behavior problems in children

Relations between divorced mothers’ anger and children’s behavior problems were examined. High state anger was associated with fewer problems in sons, but more problems in daughters. Factor analysis identified two state anger factors: action potential and feeling angry, with high action potential associated with fewer behavior problems in sons but more in daughters. It was hypothesized that high action potential is expressed in maternal assertiveness, decreasing behavior problems in boys. More behavior problems in daughters is associated with empathy and imitation of mothers’ feelings.