Abstract

After reviewing the previous studies of the effects of anger, hostility, or stress on cardiovascular disease, an attempt was made to propose a model in which we might understand the relations among anger (experience and expression), hostility, stress, and subsequent physical disorders. In the present model, the cognitive appraisal was conceptualized as a mediating variable between anger-provoking stressors and anger experience. In this process, hostility may play a moderating or mediating role. Expression, and/or coping of anger, act as a mediator between anger experience and subsequent outcomes. In this process, different modes of anger expression such as anger-in, anger-out or anger-control could lead to physical health or adaptation. In the present study, based on the proposed model, we also tried to test the fitness of the anger model with 388 college students. Results revealed that there was high goodness of fit between proposed model and the empirical data. Finally, implications of the proposed model and the present findings for future studies are discussed.