The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between children's perceptions of family functioning and their reported styles of anger expression. The subjects were 100 child psychiatric inpatients, ages 6 to 12 years. Children's perceptions of family functioning, social support, and anger styles were measured. Children with high and low scores on each of three anger expression scales were compared to determine whether they differed on measures of family functioning and social support. Those who reported externalizing their anger rated their families significantly lower on accord and reported poorer social support. Children who said they held in their anger rated their families significantly higher on pride and cohesiveness and reported significantly more available social support. These data demonstrate a relationship between children's perceptions of family functioning and their modes of anger expression.
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