Validation of a measure of type A behavior pattern in children: Bogalusa heart study.
A self-administered rating scale was developed to assess type A behavior in children. It contains 24 items (7-point scale) thought to reflect the major components of type A behavior. The scale was judged to be reliable and yielded the following factors: eagergy (eagerness-energy), restlessness-aggression, leadership, and alienation. 6 tasks were designed (reading, eating, walking, competition, time estimation, and crossing out number) to validate this new measure. A total of 160 predominantly middle-class public school fifth- and sixth-grade children participated in the following factorial design: 2 (classification-type A and type B) X 2 (condition-control and experimental) X 2 (sex-male and female) X 2 (race-white and black). Type A children performed in a more accelerated or intense manner than did type B children on 5 of the 6 tasks (only females exhibited rapid time estimation) as predicted. Also, children performed in a more accelerated or intense manner if they task instructions emphasized speed or intensity for 3 of the tasks (reading, crossing out number, and walking measures). Sex and race differences are also reported. Partial support is provided for the validity and reliability of this new measure.
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation; D011932:Reading; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology