title: Type A and Type B behaviors, work stressors, and social support at work.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  How Type A personality is related to the stress process has been investigated. However, in the occupational health field, stressful aspects of the work environment for Type A or B workers have not been fully revealed.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, using signal detection analysis, we analyzed data concerning work stressors and social support (SS) at work among Japanese white-collar workers (n = 560) and identified the respective aspects of work that are stressful for Type A and B workers. We also evaluated the interactions of SS at work and stressor variables among Type A and B workers, individually.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Except for one significant predictor, i.e., being unable to learn new things at work, the significant predictors of mental stress were generally quite different for Type A and B workers. Specifically, SS from management was a cause of mental stress for certain groups of Type A workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was revealed that the stressful aspects of work environment varied markedly in accord with the Type A vs Type B personality status of the subjects. The results also implied that even support from management can be stressful for Type A workers who had heavy workloads. The present study used specific measures sensitive to individual stressors and identified specific subgroups with the same work stressors. The findings provide information that is useful for stress reduction intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Osaka University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hagihara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tarumi
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morimoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017603:Signal Detection, Psychological; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D014434:Type A Personality; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology