The assessment of type A behaviour pattern: results from a spouse-report approach.
Evidence is summarized suggesting that existing self-report questionnaires for the assessment of Type A behaviour pattern suffer from major methodological shortcomings. Type A individuals may be unwilling or unable to accurately self-report. The female spouse of the male patient can potentially provide a more objective, accurate 'trait' description less contaminated by 'state' variables such as diagnosis of illness or medication. The development of a spouse-report questionnaire is described and pilot data from 41 couples are presented, including comparison of the self-report and spouse-report responses on 46 questionnaire items and five scales. Unexpectedly high levels of agreement were found between self and spouse reports. Possible explanations of such agreement are critically examined.
Condon
J T
JT
Department of Psychiatry, Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, Australia.
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010556:Personality Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D014434:Type A Personality