Type a in Relation to Job-Stress, Social and Bioclinical Variables: The Belgian Physical Fitness Study

Abstract

The present study focuses on the relationship of Type A behavior, a suspected coronary-prone behavior pattern in its overall or specific aspects, to “stress” experienced at work, and to social and coronary bio-clinical risk factors.

In order to measure Type A behavior and Job-Stress, respectively, the Jenkins Activity Survey Questionnaire (J.A.S. for employed persons, 1969 version) and a self-constructed Job-Stress Questionnaire were administered at a base-line examination to 2,302 men aged 40–50 years.

The multivariate analysis shows:

• A strong Type A behavior-Job-Stress relationship;

• An important relationship between employment grade, educational attainment and—to a lesser extent—, marital status and, overall Type A behavior, Speed and Impatience and Job-Involvement

• A weak relationship between cholesterol and triglycerides (not found in univariate analysis), and, overall Type A behavior; a small weak relationship between smoking habits, and, Speed and Impatience and Hard-Driving

• A direct relationship between heavy physical activity during leisure-time and Job-Involvement.

Index Terms:

• Type A
• job-stress
• social class
• coronary risk factors
• physical activity/fitness