Physiological and Psychosocial Correlates of Type A Behavior

May 12, 2016 updated by: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
To test the physiological and psychosocial correlates of Type A behavior.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

BACKGROUND:

The Type A behavior pattern as described by Friedman and Rosenman is characterized by extremes of competitiveness, easily aroused hostility, a sense of urgency and aggression. In 1981 the Review Panel of Coronary Prone Behavior and Coronary Heart Disease concluded that the Type A behavior pattern was associated with an increased risk for coronary heart disease. Studies have challenged the independent predictive value of the behavior pattern with respect to coronary heart disease. There was a need to develop physiological measurements related to coronary-prone behavior and to reexamine the stability of the psychological assessment. It was hypothesized that Type A behavior or some component such as hostility might be associated with a state of chronic, generalized sympathetic-adrenal arousal. Preliminary research was conducted on interpersonal dynamic correlates of Type A behavior among married couples. Research was needed on whether certain types of marriages, according to the Type A/B classification of the two spouses, are more pathogenic than others. Additional research is also needed on which components of the global Type A pattern were of primary importance as risk factors for coronary disease, and which components were enduring, which were transient, and which were situationally related.

In 1982, a household survey on Type A behavior was initiated. Measures included the Jenkins Activity Survey, the Framingham Type A Questionnaire, hostility scales, and other behavioral tests. Information was also collected on demographic variables, social support, marital satisfaction, life events, social values, and job and family stress. After the household survey was completed, the respondents were contacted by the Type A interviewers and the Structured Interviews conducted. A total of 1,114 Type A interviews were completed yielding 902 primary respondents and 239 spouses.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

The concurrent relationship of the Structured Interview (SI) global and component Type A behavior measures were tested to levels of chronic and acute sympathetic nervous system activity, as assessed by platelet and plasma catecholamines, heart rate, blood pressure, and pupil size. The correlations among heart rate, pupil size, blood pressure, and the plasma and platelet catecholamine measures were determined as were the relationships with reported global health, chronic disease, and functional disability levels. The five-year predictability was tested of reported global health, chronic disease, and functional disability from measures of global and component Type A behavior.

Tests were made of the differences in the chronic and acute sympathetic-adrenal responses, as assessed by platelet and plasma catecholamines, pupil size, heart rate, and blood pressure, among married couples having different combinations of Structured Interview global and component Type A classifications. The five year marital stability and health of these couples were followed. A comparison was made of one week test-retest reliability with the five year stability of the Structured Interview global and component Type A measures.

The study completion date listed in this record was obtained from the "End Date" entered in the Protocol Registration and Results System (PRS) record.

Study Type

Observational

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

No older than 100 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT, CHILD)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

No eligibility criteria

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

February 1, 1982

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

January 1, 1989

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 25, 2000

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 25, 2000

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

May 26, 2000

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE)

May 13, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 12, 2016

Last Verified

May 1, 2000

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 1027
  • R01HL028094 (NIH)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Heart Diseases

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Japan

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

3
Subscribe