[A study of school children with type A behavior pattern association of "competitiveness" and "impatience-aggression" with lifestyle-related factors].
OBJECTIVE
To study associations of the type A behavior pattern with the results of physical and blood examinations and data from a questionnaire on lifestyle for elementary school and junior high school students.


METHODS
277 elementary school students of 4th grade (9-10 y) and 297 junior high school students of 1st grade (12-13 y) in a community in Saitama who completed a test for the type A behavior pattern developed by Yamasaki, underwent physical and blood examinations for parameters like serum cholesterol, blood pressure, height and weight and were administered a questionnaire concerning lifestyle.


RESULTS
Points of the test for a type A behavior pattern were higher in 9-10 y than in 12-13 y individuals (both sexes or boys). Factor analysis applying 17 items of the test for type A behavior as variables demonstrated two common factors; "competitiveness" and "impatience-aggression". Mean impatience-aggression scores for individuals were significantly higher in 9-10 y than in 12-13 y children; however, the competitiveness score showed no significant difference between the two groups. Higher competitiveness scores were shown by children who prefer sports or play sports after school, also in 9-10 y children not warned against excess eating or not eating slowly by their parents. Higher impatience-aggression scores were shown by children not preferring sports, not playing sports after school, eating while watching TV or reading books, and also in 9-10 y children eating until full, and in 12-13 y children not chewing foods well or who were warned of excess eating by parents. 12-13 y students having a higher atherosclerosis index showed low competitiveness and high impatience-aggression scores.


CONCLUSIONS
By analyzing two factors included in the type A behavior pattern in school children, we found associations with lifestyle and the atherosclerosis index. The results provide a basis for further follow-up studies on the relationship between type A behavior pattern and prevention of future cardiovascular disease.
Kanda
Akira
A
Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Showa University.
Kawaguchi
Takeshi
T
D000293:Adolescent; D001161:Arteriosclerosis; D002648:Child; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D014434:Type A Personality