Citation

Suls J, Sanders GS. J. Behav. Med. 1988; 11(3): 201-226.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, State University of New York, Albany 12222.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3050117

Abstract

A behavior pattern characterized by excessive competitiveness, impatience, hostility, and time urgency, known as Type A, has typically been investigated as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. The present paper evaluates the Type A pattern as a general risk factor for a wide variety of physical disorders. Research on Type A as a moderator of the effects of life stress on health is also reviewed. When Type A or physical health is measured with objective indicators, Type A does not emerge as a general risk factor for illness, with the following exceptions: Type A's are more likely to have accidents, to die from accidents or violence, and to incur cerebrovascular and peripheral atherosclerosis. In contrast, research relying on self-report measures of Type A and symptomatology find a consistent link between Type A behavior and a variety of minor illness and symptoms. There is little support for the notion that Type A is a potentiator of the effects of life events stress.

Language: en