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The effects of lifestyle and type a behavior on the life-stress process

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Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of personal factors such as lifestyle and Thpe A behavior on the life-stress process, we analyzed data randomly collected from 428 metropolitan Tokyo residents. Path analysis techniques were implemented to examine the direct and indirect effects of lifestyle and the Type A behavior pattern between life events, subjective stress and depressive symptoms. The following results were obtained:

  1. 1.

    Persons with a healthy lifestyle perceived a lower subjective stress level.

  2. 2.

    Although females with a healthy lifestyle had fewer direct depressive symptoms, males with a healthy lifestyle had fewer indirect depressive symptoms due to alleviation of subjective stress.

  3. 3.

    Type A males perceived a lower subjective stress level and Type A females experienced more life events.

It is suggested that mental health is modified not only by lifestyle but also by Type A behavior in the life-stress process. In particular, the preservation and promotion of a healthy lifestyle appear to reduce subjective stress and may be an important factor for the improvement of mental ill health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Osaka University School of Medicine, Suita Osaka 565, Yamadaoka, Japan

    Soichiro Maruyama & Kanehisa Morimoto

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  1. Soichiro Maruyama
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  2. Kanehisa Morimoto
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Maruyama, S., Morimoto, K. The effects of lifestyle and type a behavior on the life-stress process. Environ Health Prev Med 2, 28–34 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02931226

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02931226

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