Coronary-prone Behavior Pattern Research Articles

Type A Behaviour Pattern and Health Behaviour of Polish Nurses.

“Coronary prone behaviour pattern” refers to a way of coping with environmental stressors, otherwise known as type A behaviour patterns. Stress, unlimited working hours, and the shift system are conducive to an “unhealthy life style”, conducted by nurses. The aim of the study was to assess the “coronary prone behaviour pattern”, taking into account health behaviour and work performed by Polish nurses. Method: This was a descriptive study conducted from June 2017 to May 2018 among nurses (N = 1080) working primary care or in training facilities in Silesia, Poland. Data were acquired through a series of questionnaires and are presented as descriptive statistics. Results: The “coronary prone behaviour pattern” (type A behaviour) was manifested by 333 (30.8%) nurses, type B by 272 (25.2%). The “coronary prone behaviour pattern” respondents showed a risk of developing a problem with alcohol (p = 0.003) less frequently compared with other respondents. In addition, nurses with the abovementioned behaviour pattern ate better (M = 16.66; SD = 6.11) compared with those with the type B behaviour pattern (M = 15.49; SD = 6.52). In terms of mental and physical wellbeing, people with type A behavioural patterns had significantly (p < 0.001) better mental and physical wellbeing and, on average, better results in coping with stress compared with other behavioural patterns of nurses. Conclusion: The occurrence of the “coronary prone behaviour pattern” was associated with the health-promoting behaviours of nurses being the subject of the analysis, i.e., better mental and physical wellbeing, better ability to cope with stress, and a lower risk of problems with alcohol and proper nutrition.

Health promoting and risky behaviours of nurses, taking into account “coronary prone behaviour pattern”

Abstract Introduction “Coronary prone behaviour pattern” refers to the way of coping with environmental stressors, otherwise known as a type A behaviour pattern. Stress, unlimited working hours and the shift system are conducive to an “unhealthy life style” conducted by nurses. The purpose of the study was to evaluate health promoting and risky behaviours of nurses, taking into account the “coronary prone behaviour pattern.” Material and method 1080 nurses were subject to the analysis, among whom 1052 (97.4%) were women. They were from 23 to 65 years of age, with the average of 44.2 years. Most of them (n=484; 44%) had been working as nurses more than 20 years. The AUDIT-C test was used in the analysis, as well as the menu evaluation scale by Z. Bielińska, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Psychosocial Working Conditions Questionnaire, the COPE Inventory (an inventory developed to assess methods of coping with stress; Mini-COPE) and the A-Framingham scale by Chesney and Rosenman, in the Polish adaptation by Z. Juczyński. Results “Coronary prone behaviour pattern” (A Type behaviour pattern) was demonstrated by 333 (30.8%) nurses, B Type – by 272 (25.2%) nurses, while the other group demonstrated the Intermediate Type. The respondents with “coronary prone behaviour pattern” statistically significantly (p=0.003) demonstrated the risk of the problem with alcohol less often in comparison to the other respondents. Additionally, nurses featuring the above-mentioned behaviour pattern ate better (M=16.66; SD=6.66) in comparison to persons with B type behaviour patterns (M=15.49; SD=6.52). As far as the mental and physical well-being is concerned, resulting from stress perceived, persons with A type behaviour patterns had materially (p&amp;lt;0.001) better mental and physical well-being and on average better results in the scope of coping with stress, i.e. Active Coping, Search for Support, Acceptance, Turning to Religion, and Sense of Humour in comparison to nurses demonstrating other behaviour patterns. There were no significant differences between nurses demonstrating different behaviour patterns and the existence of diseases (obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes), physical activity and smoking. Conclusions A significant group of nurses demonstrated the “coronary prone behaviour pattern” which is unfavourable to health and predisposes to the development of cardiovascular diseases. The occurrence of “coronary prone behaviour pattern” was associated with health promoting behaviours of nurses being the subject of the analysis, i.e. better mental and physical well-being, better coping with stress and a lower risk of the problem with alcohol and proper nutrition. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

P1077 警察官における冠動脈疾患親和性行動パターンからみた循環器疾患リスクの検討(一般演題:ポスター,地方の時代の産業保健,第79回日本産業衛生学会)

P1077 警察官における冠動脈疾患親和性行動パターンからみた循環器疾患リスクの検討(一般演題:ポスター,地方の時代の産業保健,第79回日本産業衛生学会)

Psychologic and social aspects of cardiovascular disease

In summarizing the evidence, it becomes apparent that several psychologic and social variables are related to coronary heart disease (CHD). Coronary prone behavior pattern, in particular the hostility component, appears to be related to the development and perhaps expression of CHD, whereas it is not reliably related to outcomes after CHD is manifest. Depression clearly has been shown to be related to outcomes after CHD has declared itself. Lack of social ties appears to be related to mortality, whereas emotional social support has been shown to be related to recovery from coronary events. It also seems apparent that there are subsets of vulnerable individuals who might be best served by targeted interventions. Interventions are proposed as suggested by the prevailing evidence.

An Investigation into the Relationship between Coronary Risk Factors and Coronary Heart Disease among the Pietermaritzburg Asian Population

This study investigated the relationship between coronary heart disease and a number of established coronary risk factors among Indian males. Included were factors such as Type A behaviour pattern (sometimes referred to as the coronary-prone behaviour pattern). The study investigated whether the following coronary risk factors were able to distinguish those with myocardial infarction from controls: Type A behaviour pattern, stress levels, anger levels, diabetes, previous coronary heart disease, hypertension, obesity, family history of coronary heart disease, physical exercise, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. Statistical analysis indicated that none of the risk factors, except Type A behaviour pattern, were able to significantly distinguish the myocardial infarction group from controls.

The Current Status of the Coronary Prone Behaviour Pattern

Despite over 30 years of increasingly vigorous research it is still not possible to claim with acceptable certainty that there is an identifiable pattern of coronary prone behaviour nor to say with any confidence that the idea is misguided. The scientific process that leads from initial tentative findings through generation of a hypothesis, to rigorous and cumulative tests of that hypothesis has not happened. Instead there has been a rather erratic series of positive and negative studies, and the generation and modification of essentially rather similar hypotheses. As a result we are still in the position of claiming that there may be a pattern of behaviour that predicts CHD and that it is probable that hostility is involved. It is not clear why the idea is so persistent but it may well lie in the combination of a widely held lay belief that heart disease relates to stress and personality, with tantalizing positive findings occurring every few years. While there has been little increase in understanding of the role of behavioural factors in CHD as a result of this 30 years of endeavour there have been clinical benefits. It has clearly been shown that what are regarded as coronary prone behaviours can readily be modified and that their modification appears to confer some health benefits and no detectable health hazards.

Ischemic ECG changes are found more often in asymptomatic men with a coronary prone behaviour pattern

Type A behaviour has been related to coronary heart disease (CHD) as an independent risk factor. Therefore, ischemic electrocardiographic (ECG) changes may be more prominent in Type A than in Type B individuals. ECG abnormalities were assessed by the Cardiac Infarction Injury Score (CIIS), which has predictive power for sudden death. In 100 healthy men aged 30–45 yr, the CIIS was related to cardiovascular risk factors such as age, blood pressure, smoking, family history of CHD and behaviour pattern groups defined by the Structured Interview (46 Type A, 20 Type X and 34 Type B subjects). The distribution of the CIIS was different among the behaviour pattern groups ( p< 0.05) and was shifted towards higher ischemic scores in Type A subjects. These findings suggest that clinically asymptomatic persons with Type A behaviour have a greater probability of suffering ischemic heart disease and possible sudden death.

Executives' Type a Personality as a Determinant of Environmental Perception and Firm Strategy

Abstract Data obtained from 43 executives in Phoenix, Arizona, were used to test a series of hypotheses regarding the link between a leader'S Type A, coronary-prone behavior pattern, the perception of environmental uncertainty, and an organization'S strategy. Results indicate that a person'S Type A characteristics were related to both how the environment was perceived and a firm'S strategic direction. Specifically, Type A executives with Type A personalities perceived the environment as more dynamic and were more likely to seek external diversification than were executives with Type B personalities. The results are discussed in terms of (a) the implications of the use of the Type A, coronary-prone behavior pattern in leadership and top management research and (b) the potential impact of the measure of Type A personality on the selection of managers.

Personality, stress and accident involvement in the offshore oil and gas industry

The relationships between stress, personality and accident involvement were assessed in a 1 yr follow-up study among 360 personnel working on offshore drilling rigs and production platforms. Both the Type A coronary prone behaviour pattern and the ‘neuroticism’ dimension of personality were associated with increased accident involvement, reported job dissatisfaction, poor mental health, and higher levels of perceived stress at work and at home than among Type Bs and the more ‘stable’ personality types. Although more extraverts reported accidents, it was observed that many introverts and ambiverts had also been involved in incidents leading to personal injury. No significant differences in reported stress levels or stress manifestations (i.e. job satisfaction, mental health, alcohol or tobacco usage) were observed between introverts and extraverts. A Type-B predisposition existed in the offshore environment, and some self-selection into particular aspects of offshore work were evidenced. It is suggested that the use of personality assessment in the selection process would be beneficial to the industry, and might help to answer some of the questions about causality, raised from the findings of this survey.

Identifying Hypertensive Patients With Elevated Systolic Workplace Blood Pressures

The present study was designed to identify patients who had systolic work blood pressures that were substantially higher than their clinic blood pressures. Fifty-two mild and moderate hypertensive patients were assessed using clinic blood pressures and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in their natural environment. Thirty-eight percent of these patients had systolic work blood pressures that were more than 10 mm Hg above their clinic blood pressures. These patients did not differ from other patients in terms of the demographic or clinical factors which were assessed. Need for control and anger, two core features of the Type A Coronary-prone Behavior Pattern, were shown to discriminate these patients on a statistically reliable basis. Research on cardiovascular reactivity to stress suggests that such patients with elevated systolic work blood pressures may be at greater risk for cardiac morbidity and mortality.

Type A behavior pattern as a risk factor for coronary heart diseases.

This is a study of type A behavior pattern in patients with coronary heart diseases (CHD). Type A behavior pattern (coronary-prone behavior pattern) has been recognized as a risk factor for CHD in western countries. Three hundred patients with new onset of CHD (243 cases of acute myocardial infarction and 57 cases of unstable angina pectoris) between 1981 and 1987 were analysed from the standpoint of behavior pattern. Type A behavior pattern assessed by Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) was found in 64.6% of subjects and in 43.0% of healthy controls (p less than 0.05). Concerning occupational position, the majority of patients in the administrative class showed type A behavior pattern. Type A behavior pattern was not related with other traditional risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and smoking) and was related with angiographically documented severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Emotional stress load by mirror drawing test (MDT) evoked more elevation of blood pressure and plasma catecholamine level in type A patients than in type B patients. A follow-up of post CHD patients, whose occupational position belonged to the administrative class and/or whose work load did not decrease after CHD, modification of type A behavior pattern seemed to be difficult. In conclusion, we consider that type A behavior pattern exists also in Japanese CHD patients, and plays an important role in the development of CHD.

Predictability of repeated challenge: Effects on cardiovascular activity in the type A (coronary prone) behavior pattern

Fifty-two healthy young adults classified either as Type A (coronary prone) or Type B were randomly assigned to a vigilance task during which observing responses produced targets according to either a predictable (i.e., fixed-interval 90-sec) or a nonpredictable (i.e., random-interval 90-sec) reinforcement schedule. During the task, blood volume pulse, interbeat interval, masseter (EMG) activity, and blood pressure were monitored. Transient peripheral vasomotor constriction and heart rate increases were initiated within an 8- to 12-sec period following target detection with the predictable schedule, with subjects evincing greater responsivity than their nonpredictable schedule counterparts. Type A subjects assigned to the random-schedule evinced significantly shorter heart rate and blood volume pulse response durations than did Type B subjects. Longer postevent EMG elevations were evidenced by subjects assigned to the predictable schedule. No significant blood pressure differences were found among the groups. The impact of challenge-contingent behavior on cardiovascular responsivity and the relevance of attentional processes to this relationship and to cardiovascular risk are discussed.

Reliability of the Jenkins Activity Survey in Assessing Type a Behavior Pattern in Middle-Aged Nigerians

Contemporary psychosomatic research has implicated Type A behaviour pattern in the etiology of coronary heart disease (3). This pattern is characterized by extremes of competitive-achievement striving, time urgency, impatience, easily aroused anger and aggression (1). Persons showing relative absence of these characteristics are designated Type B. The Jenkins Activity Survey has been used extensively as a reasonably valid and reliable selfreport test for assessing these behaviour tendencies (2). It has not been established, however, whether the Jenkins survey could be reliably applied to measure the Type A behaviour pattern in adult Nigerians. This hypothesis was tested for 285 male university administrators and lecturers who were ages 29 to 45 yr. (M = 34.7 yr.). Subjects responded to the scale (3) at three-week intervals. Their scale scores were calculated from items with high factor loadings (1): Type A (M = 3.87, SD = 1.21), Hard Driving (M = 3.57, SD = 0.79), Job Involvement (M=4.31, SD= 1.63)) Speed-impatience (M =2.46, SD= 1.12); Type B (M = 1.79, SD = 0.64), Hard Driving (M = 2.01, SD = 1.02), Job Involvement (M = 1.32, SD = 0.97), Speed-impatience (M = 1.82, SD = 0.79). Analysis indicated that the survey was internally consistent (Cronbach cw: Hard Driving, .86; Job Involvement, .82; Speed-impatience, .77) and yielded significant, positive and moderate test-retest correlations (Hard Driving, .71; Job Involvement, .66; Speed-impatience, 38; Pearson r, p<.01). As these scores and coefficients are comparable to values obtained from other research, these data suggest the Jenkins Activity Survey could reliably assess coronary-prone behavior pattern in employed middle-aged Nigerians. Confirmation of coronary heart disease in this group was not possible, but such data are needed.

Physiological correlates of the coronary-prone behavior pattern in women during examination stress

This research is an assessment of the physiological correlates of Type A behavior in college-aged women. Subjects were monitored while they took a midterm statistics examination; the dependent variables were systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rate variability. Type A or B behavior was assessed with the student from of the Jenkins Activity Survey. The results indicated that Type A women had higher levels of systolic blood pressure and heart rate, and lower levels of heart rate variability. Thus, when the stressor was a genuine examination, Type A behavior in young women was associated with increased physiological response levels compared to Type B's, a finding consistent with the hypothesis that Type A behavior is associated with sympathetic nervous system activity.

The Coronary-Prone Behavior Pattern among Japanese : Its comparison with Type A Behavior Pattern

The Coronary-Prone Behavior Pattern among Japanese : Its comparison with Type A Behavior Pattern

Structured interview and self-report measures of the type A coronary-prone behaviour pattern: private and public self-consciousness as moderator variables

Analysis of the moderating effects of private and public self-consciousness (PSC and PuSC) on the relationship between self-report measures of the Type A behaviour pattern and a structured interview measure of the pattern showed that the samples low in PSC and PuSC had stronger relationships between the variables than those high, contrary to expectations. The results are discussed in terms of the need to take account of other variables in the test situation.

Strategies of coping in achievement settings and the role of self-awareness in the type a coronary prone behaviour pattern

The Type A behaviour pattern (TABP) has emerged as a predictor of reaction to stress in interaction with a range of task and environmental variables. This paper reports the results of two experimental studies to demonstrate that, in order to predict the role of the TABP, measured both by questionnaire and by structured interview in reaction to stress in demanding cognitive tasks, the influence of the nature of the feedback given to performers (success or failure at earlier stages of the task) and the degree to which the performers are aware of being observed directly (high versus low levels of manipulated self-awareness) need to be taken into account. The nature of the internal standards that people who, to a greater or less extent possess the TABP, must be known before predictions can be made about how performance will be affected.

Religion, Type A behavior, and health

In a study of air traffic controllers, religious differences are found in the way Type A behavior is associated with several health status indicators. Associations between the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) and physical illness incidence, health-promotive behavior, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, subjective distress and impulse control problems, and alcohol consumption are examined by religious attendance, religious affiliation, and change in affiliation. Findings confirm that Type A does not vary significantly by religion. However, there are several significant findings between Type A and various health indicators. Type A is associated with illness incidence, overall and more strongly in several religion, subgroups. Type A and alcohol consumption are related positively in Protestants and converts, and negatively in churchgoing Catholics. Type A is related to impulse control problems in churchgoing Protestants and to subjective distress in churchgoing Catholics. Finally, in individuals with weak or no religious ties, Type A is associated with lower blood pressure. This last finding suggests that in some people (for example, the irreligious or unchurched), the coronary-prone behavior pattern may have cardiovascular effects which are salutary in at least one respect.

Personality correlates of type A coronary-prone behavior.

The study investigates the relationship between Type A coronary-prone behavior pattern and self-concept, need for approval, extroversion, neuroticism, and trait anxiety. Eighty-eight undergraduate students completed the Jenkins Activity Survey, which measures the Type A personality; the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS; Fitts, 1965); the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale; the A-Trait Scale (Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene, 1970), and the Eysenck Personality Inventory. It was found that Type As scored lower on all the dimensions of self-concept except the physical. It was also found that Type Bs scored higher on need for approval, but only on its avoidance component. In addition, Type As scored higher on extroversion and on neuroticism. The implications of these results are discussed.

Allocation of attention and physiological responsivity in the type A coronary-prone individual.

Recent studies have suggested that persons exhibiting the Type A coronary-prone behavior pattern allocate their attention to the environment differently than those not exhibiting the pattern. The present study was done to relate such differences in cognitive responding to cardiovascular changes during a dual-focus task. Heart rate and blood pressure were monitored in Types A and B male college students while they performed a color/word conflict primary task and a reaction-time secondary task. There were no differences in the behavioral performance of the Types A and B individuals. However, Types A and B subjects differed in mean heart rate, heart-rate variability, and phasic heart-rate pattern to the reaction-time stimuli. The reaction-time paradigm appears a fruitful base from which to explore cognitive/physiological response relations for Type A and Type B individuals.