title: [Quantitative evaluation of stress using the Type A behavior pattern].
abstract: The problem of quantitative assessment of individual stress remains to be solved. The purpose of this study was to attempt to quantify the evaluation of stress using the Type A behavior pattern. A total of 1,101 factory workers, 602 male workers (aged 20-59) completed questionnaires regarding subjective symptoms, Type A behaviors, shift work, age, and lifestyles such as drinking habits and smoking habits. Using the results of our previous study, 3 component scores were calculated from the responses to 11 questions pertaining to the Type A behavior pattern. Stepwise logistic regression analysis of complaints of 8 stress-related subjective symptoms was performed, using shift work, age, drinking habits, and smoking habits as categorical independent variables, and 3 component scores as interval-scaled independent variables. The following conclusions were obtained. 1. The first component score, which represented overall irritability, was chosen as an independent variable for complaints of "hunger pains" and "tendency to have diarrhea." The first component score had a positive association with complaints of these stress-related subjective symptoms, and the association with "hunger pains" was statistically significant with P less than 0.05, though the association with "tendency to have diarrhea" was not significant. 2. The second component score, which represented relaxation, was chosen for complaints of "heartburn or gastric reflux" and "abnormal thirst." The second component score had a negative association with complaints of these stress-related subjective symptoms, and both associations were statistically significant with P less than 0.05.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Izuno
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014434:Type A Personality