title: The dimensionality of Type A behavior within a stressful work simulation.
abstract: The present study was conducted to examine the dimensionality of overt Type A behaviors elicited in a simulated stressful work environment. University students played a managerial role while being subjected to time and work-load pressures, and completed the Survey of Work Styles (SWS; Jackson & Gray, 1989). Eighteen behaviors, coded by two raters based on audiovisual recordings, yielded relatively high interrater reliabilities. Principal components analysis revealed four primary factors: Hurriedness, Irritability, Tension of the Lower Extremities, and Restlessness. These factors contribute to an understanding of Type A behavior in that they are the first to be derived from a purely observational approach rather than a combination of observational and self-report methods. Consistent with previous research, differential correlations between the factors and the SWS subscales supported a multi-dimensional interpretation of the Type A behavior pattern. Present findings are compared to those of previous studies of Type A dimensionality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Tett
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bobocel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hafer
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014434:Type A Personality; D014937:Work