A moratorium on research using the Jenkins Activity Survey for type A behavior?

Abstract

This article presents a brief review of literature which indicates that it may be premature to abandon the use of the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) for assessing Type A behavior. In particular, the literature suggests that the time urgency/irritability subcomponent of the JAS may represent a nonspecific susceptibility factor for general ill health. Moreover, studies demonstrate that the time urgency/irritability facet of the JAS is associated with a negative health-risk profile which consists of the presence of vulnerability factors and the absence of protective factors. Finally, results of this brief review are consistent with previous research with paper and pencil measures of Type A behavior showing that subcomponent measures are superior to global measures. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 53: 905–907, 1997