Relationships among Type A behavior, employment experiences, and gender: The Minnesota heart survey

Glorian Sorensen, David R. Jacobs, Phyllis Pirie, Aaron Folsom, Russell Luepker, Richard Gillum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Previous studies indicate that Type A behavior is more prevalent among men than women. This sex difference may reflect variations in men's and women's job experiences, some of which may act as catalysts for Type A behavior. This study examines the relationship of Type A behavior (measured by the Jenkins Activity Survey) to men's and women's work hours, occupational mobility, and job-related interactions, using data from a population-based survey of 2512 employed men and women conducted in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, between 1980 and 1982. Among both sexes, Type A behavior is related to long work hours, high occupational mobility, and nonsupportive interactions with co-workers, all job experiences more common for men than for women. No sex differences are found in the relationships between Type A behavior and these job experiences. Also, no sex difference is observed in the unadjusted Type A scores or in these scores when either age, education, or marital status is taken into account. The expected direction of the sex difference in Type A behavior is reversed when work hours are controlled: women have a higher Type A score than men when work hours are considered.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)323-336
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Behavioral Medicine
Volume10
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1987

Keywords

  • Type A personality
  • coronary-prone personality
  • employment
  • sex
  • work

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