Abstract
This study examined the long-term stability of Type A behavior pattern in the Western Collaborative Group Study for 1180 surviving participants in a 27-year follow-up examination during 1986–1987. Subjects were readministered the Structured Interview (SI), originally developed for this study and first administered at intake in 1960–1961. Subjects were also given the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) and were asked to evaluate their behaviors currently and in the past using two short descriptions of Type A and Type B behaviors. Analyses of changes in global SI ratings, JAS score, and self-ratings showed no relationships between self-perceived changes reported in questionnaires and observed changes when assessed by the SI. Using the SI ratings, 61% of subjects retained their initial classification and 39% of subjects were rated differently, with a higher percentage of those originally typed B being rerated as A than A being rerated as B. Type B subjects rerated as A were significantly younger, retired earlier, reported better health, and were less likely to have been in a managerial or professional position than the subjects who changed from A to B.
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Carmelli, D., Dame, A., Swan, G. et al. Long-term changes in Type A behavior: A 27-year follow-up of the Western Collaborative Group Study. J Behav Med 14, 593–606 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00867173
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00867173