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Teen Anger
Management Issues in school

Author:
Emma Loker
Emma Loker
B.S.
Editor:
Aja Chavez
Aja Chavez
AMFT, APCC
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Anger can be a natural, beneficial emotion for teenagers; it can help them solve problems, learn what they like and dislike, and boost their self-esteem and pride. But when teen anger in school becomes a go-to way of coping with negative emotions, it can be damaging to a teen’s mental and physical well-being if not managed in healthy ways.1

Schools are an important location for interventions designed to reduce anger and aggression – but steps can also be taken at home or through therapy. If you or someone you know is finding teen anger in school difficult to cope with, advice and support are available. 

This page can help by covering:

  • What teen anger in school is
  • The causes of anger in school
  • Signs of teen anger in school
  • How anger affects teens in school
  • Support for angry teens in academic settings
  • Therapy options for teens with anger issues
  • When to seek support for teen anger
Teenage boy struggling with anger management issues in school

What Is Teen Anger in School?

Anger can be a good thing. It can act as an internal messaging system for teenagers, letting them know something has gone wrong and how to fix it.2 Yet, schools can be high-pressure environments, which can trigger frequent and excessive outbursts of anger in teenagers. 

When teenagers frequently lose their cool, there’s usually something happening below the surface. However, they’re not giving themselves the chance to properly communicate the feelings behind their anger, such as fear, frustration, or embarrassment. 

Helping a teen recognize the source of their anger and how to manage it in healthy ways can ensure a happier school life and a brighter future. One of the first steps is understanding the possible causes of anger in school.

The Causes of Anger Management Issues in School

A lot of adults may wonder, Why are teens so angry? Much of the answer to this question comes down to how adolescence is a stage of life when we go through rapid physical and emotional changes. While they learn how to navigate their evolving bodies and minds, some teens may feel confused about corresponding shifts in their emotions. They may even end up expressing them in the form of anger and aggression.3 

There are a variety of potential causes for student anger issues. Common reasons include:3

  • Feeling like their physical or social activities have been restricted
  • Believing that their personality or characteristics are under attack
  • Thinking that they’re being criticized or embarrassed
  • Feeling overwhelmed or stressed by a workload

While it’s normal for a teenager to show anger in school from time to time, when it becomes their go-to pattern of behavior it can become a problem. Also, regularly resorting to anger may indicate an underlying issue. For example, a teen may become frequently angry in school if they are experiencing…

  • Problems at home, such as conflict with family
  • Emotional distress
  • Exposure to violence, including emotional and physical
  • Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression
  • Low self-esteem
  • A lack of social support
  • Being involved in social groups that show aggression1-5

If you or someone you know is finding coping with anger in school difficult, there is support and advice available. Plus, recognizing the signs of teen anger in school can help you figure out if this is something you need help with. 

Signs of Teen Anger in School

Teenagers can express anger in a variety of different ways. Some may prefer to push their anger down, while others may express it in outward, more disruptive ways. Additionally, studies show that there can be differences in how boys and girls express anger in schools; boys might show more physical aggression and girls may be more verbally aggressive. Even a teen’s age may also influence how they express their anger.3,6

Having said as much, the following are some common signs of student anger issues:4-10

1. Agitation

Signs of agitation can come before outbursts of anger. These include clenched fists, pacing back and forth, a raised voice, and a flushed face. Recognizing these signs can help prevent a situation from escalating into a full-blown meltdown or crisis situation.

2. Disruptive Behavior

A teen may become disruptive in the classroom as an outlet for their anger. Disruption can look like making untimely jokes, creating arguments or debates, or attempting to make other students laugh.

3. Aggression

If a teen feels overwhelmed, challenged, or criticized in school, they may respond by becoming aggressive as a way to manage how they feel. Aggression can take the form of verbal outbursts designed to hurt someone else, such as a teacher or peer. However, it can also include physical actions such as kicking, punching, biting, and spitting. Aggression can also be directed towards more than one person. 

4. Bullying

Teens who find controlling their anger difficult may express how they feel by misplacing their anger on a peer. This means that instead of being able to control their emotions, they might intentionally and repeatedly cause someone else discomfort or injury. Interestingly, a recent study has also shown that regularly becoming angry in school may also leave teens prone to being bullied. This may be because others see a teen’s anger as a threat, so feel like they should respond in a defensive way.

5. Withdrawal

Sometimes, if a teen fears losing control of their anger, they may become withdrawn in the classroom and isolated from their peers. 

A teen who struggles with controlling their anger in school may show one or two of these signs – or they might show a combination of all of them. These signs of teen anger in school can affect a teen’s life in many ways, demonstrating the need for understanding and support.

Teenage girl struggling with anger in school

How Anger Affects Teens in School

Anger can affect a teen’s ability to learn, social life, and self-esteem in the following ways.

The Academic Impact of Anger in Youth11,12

The academic impact of student anger issues is widespread. To begin with, disruptive behavior that results from anger can impact academic achievement – both for those showing it and those witnessing it. Additionally, anger can lead to poor social skills, which can lead to a lack of support in an academic setting and poorer outcomes for the future. 

The Effect of Anger on Social Life in School 

Fear of losing control of anger can cause a teen to withdraw from friend circles and group activities. Also, expressing anger in outbursts or through spoken or physical aggression can frighten a teen’s peers. They may become wary of unpredictable expressions of anger, so may prefer to keep an emotional distance. These issues can lead a teen to feel lonely and isolated and might prevent them from learning valuable social skills for making strong relationships – both as a teen and as an adult. 

Anger’s Impact on Self-Esteem

When anger is expressed in healthy ways, it can actually benefit a teen. It helps them to learn about what they like and dislike, problem-solve, and even restore self-esteem after what they see as an unfair slight against them.1

However, when anger is regularly expressed in unhealthy ways, causing problems with academic achievement and social life, it can lead a teen to feel guilty and ashamed – and to start seeing themselves in a negative light. 

Support for Angry Teens in Academic Settings

When trying to support teens with anger issues in school, it can be helpful to know that all forms of behavior are communication. When a teen shows signs of anger, they’re trying to say that they have some form of underlying frustration – but they lack the understanding or awareness of their emotions to know how to do so. 

If anger in school is affecting the quality of life of someone you know, taking the following steps can help them understand where their anger is coming from and how to find a healthy resolution.11

As much as these strategies for supporting teens with anger issues can help, it can be difficult to manage anger and aggression by yourself. Therapy for teens with anger issues in school settings can assist teens in understanding the reasons behind their anger – as well as how to manage these issues in healthy ways.

1. Observe the Patterns

If there’s someone, in particular, you’re concerned about, observe their patterns of when they first show early signs of anger, how they express their frustrations, and what happens afterward. Keeping a record of how they act in school or at home could help you put strategies in place to openly communicate with them, calm them down, and reach a collaborative solution.

2. Keep Your Cool

It’s important not to respond to anger with anger – it can escalate the situation further. Try to keep your cool and listen to not just what the teen is saying, but also what they’re communicating through their body language and facial expressions. They may not be able to tell you exactly what it is they need, but validating them by telling them that it’s OK to be upset can help them feel more understood. 

3. Try Not to Reinforce the Behavior

Giving in to demands in attempts to restore peace can encourage anger and aggression as it reinforces the idea that anger will get them what they want. This can prevent a teen from developing healthier ways of expressing their emotions and needs. Instead, gently let them know that when they’re willing to talk to you, you are there to listen. 

4. Praise Healthy Emotional Expressions

When a teen calms down after an outburst of anger, let them know you’re proud of them for doing so. Encourage them to try and express why they acted the way they did and help them come to some collaboration on how their needs can be met. When they take these steps, praise them for their efforts. 

5. Help Them Learn Better Ways to Cope

During moments when a teen is calm, talk to them about their feelings and what they think they need to feel more regulated. You could ask questions such as “When do you feel most angry or frustrated?” and “What do you need to feel more supported during these moments?”

Therapy for Teens With Anger Issues in School Settings

Frequently resorting to anger in school to manage feelings can be highly disruptive to a teen’s emotional, academic, and social well-being. Professional mental health support can help a teen understand the source of their anger as well as better ways to cope with it. There are a range of options for behavioral therapy for school-related anger in adolescents and talk therapy, including:

Inpatient Treatment for School-Related Anger Issues in Teens

These programs offer a 24-hour supportive and empathic environment for teens dealing with anger in school, providing therapy sessions, peer support, and engaging activities that focus on developing healthier behaviors.

Somatic Experiencing

This form of treatment can help teenagers recognize bodily sensations that stem from their emotions, and develop awareness of their anger and how to manage it in healthy ways.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT’s evidence-based approach can help teens manage the thoughts and behaviors around their anger – as well as the possible reasons behind it.

Anger Management Therapy

This therapy helps teens to better understand their anger and focuses on relaxation techniques such as mindfulness and breathing to help them control anger responses. It also targets communication skills to help teens express their needs without resorting to outbursts.

Anger Expression Techniques

These techniques focus on helping teens find ways to express their anger assertively and constructively. It may involve verbal expression exercises or role-playing responses to situations involving anger. 

When to Seek Support for Teen Anger in School

Feeling angry sometimes is a normal part of being human and growing up. Anger can let a teen know that something’s not right – and can be helpful in figuring out what that is. Yet, if anger frequently reaches boiling point in school, it can damage a teen’s family and social life, self-esteem, ability to learn, and prospects for the future. Dealing with teen anger in school can be challenging, but Mission Prep can help. 

At Mission Prep, our treatment center offers personalized care for teens struggling with anger, including: 

Our team of trained professionals aims to understand the reasons behind each teen’s anger to provide the best treatment for them – helping them regulate their emotions and express themselves in calm, consistent ways.  Reaching out is the first step towards a brighter future. Contact us today for support and guidance. 

Group of friends walking in the school halls

References

  1. Lök, N., Bademli, K., & Canbaz, M. (2018). The Effects of Anger Management Education on Adolescents’ Manner of Displaying Anger and Self-Esteem: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 32(1), 75-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2017.10.010
  2. American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Anger. Retrieved February 3, 2025, from https://www.apa.org/topics/anger
  3. Anjanappa, S., Govindan, R., & Munivenkatappa, M. (2020). Prevalence and expression of anger in school going adolescents. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 34(1), 35-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2019.12.002
  4. Provide Education. (n.d.). Understanding aggression in the classroom. Retrieved February 3, 2025, from https://www.provide-education.co.uk/understanding-aggression-in-the-classroom/
  5. Thomas, D. E., Bierman, K. L., & Problems Prevention Research Group, T. C. The impact of classroom aggression on the development of aggressive behavior problems in children. Development and Psychopathology, 18(2), 471. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579406060251
  6. Boman, P. (2003). Gender differences in school anger. International Education Journal, 4(2), 71-77.
  7. Wilson, S. J., & Lipsey, M. W. (2007). School-Based Interventions for Aggressive and Disruptive Behavior: Update of a Meta-Analysis. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 33(2 Suppl), S130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2007.04.011
  8. Insights to Behavior. (2020, April 13). A useful guide for dealing with student aggression. Insights to Behavior. Retrieved February 3, 2025, from https://insightstobehavior.com/blog/guide-dealing-student-aggression/
  9. Hisar, T., Kızılkurt, Ö. K., & Dilbaz, N. (2021). The Effect of Anger and Family Functions on Bullying Behavior in Individuals with Substance Use Disorder between the Ages of 15 and 25. Alpha Psychiatry, 22(1), 61. https://doi.org/10.5455/apd.96949
  10. Swartz, J., Carranza, A., & Knodt, A. (2019). Amygdala activity to angry and fearful faces relates to bullying and victimization in adolescents. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 14(7), 699–709. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsz051
  11. Ødegård, M., & Solberg, S. (2024). Identifying teachers’ reactive strategies towards disruptive behavior in classrooms. Teaching and Teacher Education, 145, 104627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2024.104627
  12. Dollar, J. M., Perry, N. B., Calkins, S. D., Keane, S. P., & Shanahan, L. (2017). Temperamental Anger and Positive Reactivity and the Development of Social Skills: Implications for Academic Competence during Preadolescence. Early Education and Development, 29(5), 747. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2017.1409606

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