Leadership component of type A behavior predicts physical activity in early midlife.
BACKGROUND
Research on the long-term effects of Type A behavior and its components in the prediction of physical activity in adulthood is scarce and there is a lack of prospective data that are able to show such an association.


OBJECTIVE
We examined the relations between components of Type A behavior and physical activity from youth to early midlife.


METHODS
The sample included 2,031 participants (43.8% of males) aged 9 to 24 years in 1986 from the Young Finns Study. Type A behavior was measured by the Hunter-Wolf A-B Rating Scale at three phases in 1986, 1989, and 2001. Physical activity was assessed using a short self-report questionnaire at five phases between 1986 and 2007.


RESULTS
High Type A leadership was associated with high physical activity in 1986 (r = 0.37, P < 0.01), 1989 (r = 0.36, P < 0.01) and 2001 (r = 0.31, P < 0.01), and youth leadership also predicted high adult physical activity (P < 0.001). After adjustment for age, education, occupation, smoking, body mass index, and baseline physical activity, the association remained significant. There was also a bidirectional association between Type A leadership and physical activity. Persistent physical activity during the adult years was associated with a higher Type A leadership than persistent physical inactivity (Cohen's d = 0.34, P < 0.001), even after controlling for potential confounders. The associations of other components of Type A behavior, i.e., hard-driving, eagerness-energy, and aggression with physical activity were marginal.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a direct relation between Type A leadership and physical activity at different development phases that maybe bidirectional.
LIKES Research Center for Sport and Health Sciences, Viitaniementie 15, 40720, Jyväskylä, Finland. xiaolin.yang@likes.fi
Xiaolin
X
Yang
Risto
R
Telama
Mirja
M
Hirvensalo
Taina
T
Hintsa
Laura
L
Pulkki-Råback
Mirka
M
Hintsanen
Liisa
L
Keltikangas-Järvinen
Jorma S A
JS
Viikari
Olli T
OT
Raitakari
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult