Anger, anxiety, and depression in early adolescents from intact and divorced families.

This study examined differences in anger, anxiety, and depression between early adolescents from divorced families and early adolescents from intact families. To control for extraneous variables, 24 early adolescents from divorced families were matched with 24 early adolescents from intact families according to gender, age, race, and grade in school. All responded to measures of state anger, state anxiety, and depression. Using the t test, one of the three hypotheses was supported. Statistically significant differences were found in state anger, but not in state anxiety or depression, between the two groups. Implications for nursing are addressed.