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Leadership Component of Type A Behavior Predicts Physical Activity in Early Midlife

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Abstract

Background

Research on the long-term effects of Type A behavior and its components in the prediction of physical activity in adulthood is scarce and there is a lack of prospective data that are able to show such an association.

Purpose

We examined the relations between components of Type A behavior and physical activity from youth to early midlife.

Method

The sample included 2,031 participants (43.8% of males) aged 9 to 24 years in 1986 from the Young Finns Study. Type A behavior was measured by the Hunter-Wolf A-B Rating Scale at three phases in 1986, 1989, and 2001. Physical activity was assessed using a short self-report questionnaire at five phases between 1986 and 2007.

Results

High Type A leadership was associated with high physical activity in 1986 (r = 0.37, P < 0.01), 1989 (r = 0.36, P < 0.01) and 2001 (r = 0.31, P < 0.01), and youth leadership also predicted high adult physical activity (P < 0.001). After adjustment for age, education, occupation, smoking, body mass index, and baseline physical activity, the association remained significant. There was also a bidirectional association between Type A leadership and physical activity. Persistent physical activity during the adult years was associated with a higher Type A leadership than persistent physical inactivity (Cohen's d = 0.34, P < 0.001), even after controlling for potential confounders. The associations of other components of Type A behavior, i.e., hard-driving, eagerness-energy, and aggression with physical activity were marginal.

Conclusion

There is a direct relation between Type A leadership and physical activity at different development phases that maybe bidirectional.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Academy of Finland (grants no. 77841, 210283, 123621 [L.P.-R.], 121584, 124282), Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Ministry of Education, Turku University Foundation, Special Federal Grants for Turku University Hospital, Research Funds of the University of Helsinki (project no 2106012 [L.P.R.], Juho Vainio Foundation, Finnish Foundation of Cardiovascular Research, Emil Aaltonen Foundation (MH), Finnish Medical Foundation, Finnish Cultural Foundation, and Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation (MH).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. LIKES Research Center for Sport and Health Sciences, Viitaniementie 15, 40720, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Xiaolin Yang

  2. Department of Sport Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Risto Telama & Mirja Hirvensalo

  3. Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Taina Hintsa, Laura Pulkki-Råback, Mirka Hintsanen & Liisa Keltikangas-Järvinen

  4. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland

    Laura Pulkki-Råback

  5. Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Jorma S. A. Viikari

  6. Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Jorma S. A. Viikari

  7. Department of Clinical Physiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Olli T Raitakari

  8. Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Olli T Raitakari

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  1. Xiaolin Yang
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Correspondence to Xiaolin Yang.

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Yang, X., Telama, R., Hirvensalo, M. et al. Leadership Component of Type A Behavior Predicts Physical Activity in Early Midlife. Int.J. Behav. Med. 19, 48–55 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-010-9134-5

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