An open trial of an anger management treatment in a correctional facility: preliminary effectiveness and predictors of response

ABSTRACT

Despite the prevalence of anger management programs in correctional settings, there is mixed support for their effectiveness, and little is known about who benefits most. This preliminary study aimed to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of anger management for inmates, and (2) examine baseline psychopathology and midtreatment variables as response predictors. Participants were 30 incarcerated men undergoing 12-session anger management groups. Post-intervention, inmate-reported anger, and disciplinary actions decreased. Increased reported emotion regulation strategies predicted anger reduction.

KEYWORDS:

• Anger management
• aggression
• treatment

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Sheriff Robert Garvey, Melinda Cady, and Laura Peverley, who facilitated data collection at the county jail and house of corrections, as well as all of the inmates who participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.