Type A college males manifested higher pulse rates, greater blood pressure in response to self-esteem threats, and employed more suppression and denial than Type B subjects.
Cross-Sectional (n=84)
This study was conducted to examine (a) whether Type A individuals respond with more psychophysiological arousal to threat to self-esteem than to threat of shock, (b) whether differences between Type A and Type B individuals in psychophysiological responses are greater under high than low stress, and (c) whether Type A and Type B individuals differ in how they cognitively cope with stress. Eighty-four college males served as subjects. The results indicated that the Type A subjects manifested higher pulse rates across all conditions and greater systolic and diastolic blood pressure in response to threat to self-esteem than did Type B subjects. The Type A subjects also employed more suppression in response to both threat to self-esteem and threat of shock and employed more denial in response to threat to self-esteem than did Type B subjects. Implications regarding the means by which Type A behavior increases the risk of premature heart disease are discussed.
Pittner et al. (Tue,) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy (n=84). Type A behavior pattern vs. Type B behavior pattern was evaluated on Psychophysiological arousal (pulse rate, blood pressure) and cognitive coping strategies in response to stress. Type A college males manifested higher pulse rates, greater blood pressure in response to self-esteem threats, and employed more suppression and denial than Type B subjects.