Evaluating anger in Chinese adolescents: Psychometric validation and clinical sensitivity of the Chinese version of the Children's Inventory of Anger

ABSTRACT Importance Accurately assessing anger in Chinese adolescents is crucial. Uncontrolled anger among adolescents can manifest in externalizing and internalizing problems. However, there are limited assessments specifically designed to measure anger in Chinese adolescents. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Children's Inventory of Anger (ChIA‐C). Methods We enrolled 1790 adolescents aged 11–18 years from five middle schools (mean age of 14.56 ± 1.71 years, 57.9% female). Of these, 901 participants (mean age of 13.95 ± 1.66 years, 59.2% female) completed a retest survey after 9 months. Psychometric assessments comprised factor structure analysis, reliability testing, validity examination, and measurement invariance analysis. Furthermore, we recruited 50 pairs of depressed adolescents and healthy controls to evaluate the clinical sensitivity of the ChIA‐C. Results Factor analysis confirmed a robust four‐factor structure with favorable fit indices ( χ 2 /df = 3.35, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.05, Comparative Fit Index = 0.92, and Tucker‐Lewis Index = 0.91). Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.76–0.92) and test‐retest reliability ( r = 0.38–0.50, P r = 0.28–0.49, P r = 0.13–0.34, P Interpretation The ChIA‐C exhibits robust psychometric properties, establishing its reliability and validity as a tool for assessing anger in Chinese adolescents.