The Moderating Role of Different Assertiveness Types in the Relationship between Anger and Anger Rumination in Patients Suffering from Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Assertiveness is one of the important components of determining the quality of human relationships and the management of anger. The main aim of this study was to examine the moderating role of assertiveness types in the relationship between anger and anger rumination in patients suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain.

For this purpose, a sample of 109 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain was selected by convenience sampling method. Adaptive and aggressive assertiveness scale, multidimensional anger inventory and anger rumination scale were used for collecting data. Data analysis was carried out using Pearson correlation coefficient and hierarchical regression analysis.

The results showed different assertiveness types have a moderating role in the relationship between anger and anger rumination in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Adaptive assertiveness was a negative moderator in the relationship between anger and anger rumination, and with proper management of initial anger it reduces the intensity of anger rumination. On the contrary, aggressive assertiveness was a positive moderator in the relationship between anger and anger rumination, and by intensifying the initial anger, it increases anger rumination.

In general, different assertiveness types exacerbate/intensify or weaken the chain of anger and anger rumination, and affect the severity of pain in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain disorder. . Therefore, adaptive and aggressive assertiveness indirectly lead to a decrease or an increase in the severity of pain in patients with musculoskeletal disorders, respectively.