Identifying A psychological profile of Type A behaviour pattern

Abstract

A conceptual model of Type A behaviour pattern (TABP) is presented which frames the pattern in terms of current cognitive‐behavioural psychology and in the wider context of the psychosocial risk factors of CHD. Type A behaviours are considered as stemming from Type A appraisals, elicited in specific situations in individuals with enhanced emotional reactivity who hold a system of beliefs identifiable as Type A. A study was performed in order to assess the possible associations of personality dimensions such as extraversion and neuroticism to TABP and identify specific dysfunctional beliefs associated with TABP. The Bortner Rating Scale (BRS) was administered as a measure of TABP, together with the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) for measuring extraversion and neuroticism and a shortened version of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), in a random subsample of a male white‐collar population screened in the worksite for cardiovascular risk factors (N = 200). BRS scores showed a high direct correlation with DAS total scores (r = 0.64), a significant one with neuroticism (r = 0.29) and a weaker one with extraversion (r = 0.15). DAS was factor analysed and a solution found identifying eight factors. Two of them were correlated with TABP, namely ‘support‐reliance’, directly correlated, and ‘self‐confidence’, inversely. At a robust stepwise multiple regression analysis, using the above psychometric measures as independent variables and BRS scores as dependent variable, a model was found accounting for 35 per cent of variance of TABP distribution. The findings give partial support to the model proposed. The identified dysfunctional beliefs involved a higher sense of dependency of Type A individuals. A prospective study is under way to assess the possible predictive power of these cognitive factors. If confirmed, the model could partially account for inconsistencies of empirical findings in TABP studies.

Dysfunctional attitudes, perfectionism, and models of vulnerability to depression.

“…Similarly, Martin, Kuiper, and Westra (1989) found associations between subscales of the DAS and measures of Type A behavior. In an Italian study, a sample of male professional workers classified as fitting the Type A behavior pattern scored higher on factors of the DAS than participants in the same cohort who did not fit the pattern (Sibilia, Picozzi, & Nardi, 1995). Finally, consistent with the cognitive formulation of specific personality disorders (Beck, Freeman, et al, 1990), O' Leary et al (1991) found higher DAS scores in participants diagnosed with borderline personality disorder with and without major depression than in control participants without a personality disorder, although the groups with and without major depression did not differ from each other.…”

Personality and aggressive behavior under provoking and neutral conditions: A meta-analytic review.

“…Using a five-factor inventory, Morrison (1997) found that a Type A measure was negatively correlated with Agreeableness but found no correlation with Neuroticism. However, Byrne (1996) as well as Sibilia, Picozzi, and Nardi (1995) reported that Type A personality was positively correlated with Neuroticism.…”

Type A behavior, components, and outcomes: A study of Canadian employees.

“…Although global Type A behavior has been fairly consistent in showing a modest relationship with a number of physiological, health, and work-related variables (Jamal, in press), it has recently been suggested that because of the multidimensional nature of Type A behavior pattern (TABP), the usage of the component measures of Type A behavior might improve the predictive validity of the Type A behavior construct (Edwards & Baglioni, 1991). There are only a few studies in existence in which both the global Type A measure and the component measures of Type A were used (Anderson & Meininger, 1993; Barling & Charbonneau, 1992; Birks & Roger, 2000; Edwards & Baglioni, 1991; Jamal & Baba, 2001; Lee et al, 1996; Sibilia, Picozzi, & Nardi, 1995; Spence, Helmreich, & Pred, 1987). Most of these studies used physiological and health variables as dependent variables.…”