The Association Between Trait Anger and Hostile Attribution Bias: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the association between trait anger and hostile attribution bias (HAB) through a systematic review and meta-analysis, to assess whether this relationship varies as a function of momentary emotional states, and to identify other potential moderators.

METHOD: Iterative searches were conducted over 7 months in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and ProQuest, using a query validated against a predefined set of relevant studies. Backward and forward citation tracking complemented database searches. Two reviewers independently screened records, and the primary researcher extracted data. Missing data were obtained by contacting study authors.

RESULTS

Thirty-five studies (N = 10,451) met the inclusion criteria. A random-effects meta-analysis yielded a significant moderate effect (r = 0.32) with substantial relative heterogeneity (I2 = 80.3%). Analyses for student samples and individuals with anger problems or high hostility yielded mean correlations of r = 0.36 and r = 0.32, respectively. Pairwise comparisons revealed no significant differences associated with exposure to provocation.

CONCLUSION

Overall and group-specific analyses support the association between trait anger and HAB, although marked heterogeneity suggests the influence of potential moderators and variability in study characteristics hinders moderation analyses. Theoretical implications, measurement practices, and the conceptualization of HAB are discussed.