Self, spouse, and structured interview assessment of Type A behavior as related to marital satisfaction

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the degree of correspondence between self-ratings, spouse ratings, and structured interview (SI) assessments of the Type A behavior pattern (TABP), and the relationship of these measures to self-reported marital satisfaction. The measure were administered to 237 married couples. Mean SI scores and self-ratings of the TABP did not differ significantly for men and women. The correlations between SI scores and self-ratings of the TABP were significant and positive, and significantly higher than the correlations between SI scores and spouse ratings of the TABP. The correlation between spouse and self-ratings of the TABP was higher than the correlation between SI scores and either source of ratings. The correlation between the wives' ratings of their husbands' TABP and the husbands' SI scores was positive and significant, while the correlation between husbands' ratings of their wives' TABP and the wives' SI scores was not significant. The correlation between the wives' ratings of their own marital satisfaction and their ratings of their husbands' TABP was negative and significant. This correlation was negative, but not significant, for husbands' ratings. The correlations between the ratings of one's own marital satisfaction and the spouse's SI score were not significant for men or women. The results suggest a need for additional basic research concerning the convergent and discriminant validity of the TABP construct.