Health Patterns Associated with Type a Behavior: A Managerial Population

Type A Behavior is a behavioral syndrome found to be related to coronary heart disease and characterized by excessive drive, ambition, and competitiveness. Managers from 12 different companies were examined for this syndrome and for a number of the known risk factors in coronary heart disease (blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, smoking, and fitness). Those individuals exhibiting extreme Type A Behavior (Type A) showed significantly higher blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and higher cholesterol and triglyceride levels. A greater percentage of these individuals were cigarette smokers. On serum uric acid there were no differences. In each age group, Type A's were less interested in exercise, although differences in cardio-respiratory fitness were found only in the oldest age group. Type A Behavior also was related to age, education, company growth rates, and stress symptoms. Overall, the Type A1's were found to be higher on a number of risk factors known to be associated with coronary heart disease. With regard to the Type A2's (individuals with less developed Type A Behavior), the findings were not conclusive.