Are All Hostility Scales Alike? Factor Structure and Covariation Among Measures of Hostility1

Abstract

Few studies have examined the correlational and structural relationships between measures of hostility that may predict coronary heart disease. Using data from a population‐based study (N= 2,682), we examined the factor structure among the five subscales from Siegel's (1986) Multi‐dimensional Anger Inventory, the three subscales from Spielberger et al.'s (1985) anger expression scales, a Cook‐Medley (Cook & Madley, 1954) hostility subscale that measures cynicism, and items measuring hostility from four scales that assess Type A behavior. Eight separate factors were identified: hostile anger expression, perceived control over the expression of one's anger, frequency of anger, ease of anger provocation, brooding, hostile outlook, cynicism, and sullenness. These results suggest that the structure of hostility measures is more complex than previous factor analyses have suggested. Our findings point to the dangers in assuming that a factor structure can be generalized beyond the data on which it is based to provide theoretical statements about psychological structure. The new scales appear to be valid because they correlate with demographic variables and indicators of social support in the expected directions.

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