The Anger Expression Scale for Children (AESC)
Measures trait anger and anger expression styles (expression, suppression, and control) in children.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The The Anger Expression Scale for Children (AESC) was developed by Steele, R.G., Legerski, Nelson, T.D., & Phipps, S. (2009). It is designed to measure Anger expression and regulation in children. The scale is intended for use with Children and adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 30 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Trait Anger, Anger Expression, Anger In, Anger Control.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Trait Anger | 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12 | 10 |
| Anger Expression | 13,16,19,22,25,28 | 6 |
| Anger In | 14,23,26,29 | 4 |
| Anger Control | 15,18,21,24,27,30 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Almost Never, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Often, 4 = Almost Always.
The scale includes 2 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 26 to 104. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Anger / High Control: 26 – 52
- Moderate Anger / Moderate Control: 53 – 78
- High Anger / Low Control: 79 – 104
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in source text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.