Type A behavior in married couples in a family practice population.
Type A behavior is characterized by status insecurity, hyperaggressiveness, free-floating hostility, time urgency, and self-destructive tendencies. In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 72 married couples from a family practice residency patient population completed self-administered questionnaires assessing the relationship between behavior type and perceived stress, social support, health perceptions, psychosomatic symptoms, health habits, marital discord, and family function. Type A men slept less, had more headaches, and reported more job stress than type B men. Type A women tended to report more frequent abdominal pains and backaches and perceived more job stress than type B women. The behavior types of marital partners did not affect various measures of family function. Assessments of family function by individual spouses were remarkably similar.
Flynn
S P
SP
Department of Family Medicine, Fairview General Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.
Zyzanski
S J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010556:Personality Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D014434:Type A Personality