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Physiological reactivity and Type A behavior in preschool children: a longitudinal study
U Lundberg1, B Rasch, O Westermark
1Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Sweden.
Insights
This study found no consistent link between Type A behavior and physiological arousal in preschool children. While boys showed higher Type A scores, their physiological reactivity varied, suggesting no stable connection.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Neuroendocrinology
Background:
- Type A behavior pattern is linked to cardiovascular disease in adults.
- The relationship between Type A behavior and physiological reactivity in young children is not well-established.
- Understanding early behavioral traits and their physiological correlates is crucial for preventative health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between Type A behavior and physiological reactivity (cardiovascular and neuroendocrine) in preschool children.
- To examine if this relationship is consistent over time and across different active conditions.
- To determine if gender influences the Type A behavior-physiological reactivity link.
Main Methods:
- Assessed Type A behavior using a validated scale in 60 preschool children (30 male, 30 female) aged 3.5-6.5 years.
- Measured physiological arousal including blood pressure, heart rate, urinary catecholamines, and cortisol during active conditions.
- Analyzed correlations between Type A scores and physiological reactivity measures over multiple time points.
Main Results:
- Physiological arousal increased significantly during active conditions for most variables, except cortisol.
- Boys scored significantly higher on Type A behavior than girls, with scores remaining relatively stable.
- Correlations between Type A scores and cardiovascular reactivity were largely non-significant, with few exceptions.
- No significant correlations were found between Type A scores and catecholamine reactivity.
Conclusions:
- The study does not support a consistent relationship between Type A behavior and physiological reactivity in preschool children.
- Physiological reactivity was not found to be a stable individual characteristic in this age group.
- A potential association may exist during specific "Type A-relevant" challenges, as suggested by a correlation during a computer game in boys.
Abstract:
Measurements of Type A behavior were related to cardiovascular (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate) and neuroendocrine (urinary catecholamines and cortisol) reactivity in 30 male and 30 female preschool children during various active conditions at their mean ages of 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5. Significant elevations of physiological arousal occurred in most active conditions and for all physiological variables except cortisol. Playgroup leaders in daycare centers filled out a Swedish version of the scale measuring Type A behavior, and boys obtained significantly higher scores than girls. Whereas Type A scores were relatively consistent over time, however, physiological reactivity was not a stable individual characteristic, and correlations between Type A scores and cardiovascular reactivity reached significance in only 4 of 33 tests for the boys (one negative correlation) and in 1 case for the girls. Correlations between Type A scores and catecholamine reactivity did not reach significance. In summary, the data do not support the assumption of a consistent relationship between Type A behavior and physiological reactivity in preschool children. A significant correlation (r = .57, p less than .01) found for boys during a computer game suggests that an association may exist during "Type A-relevant" challenge.