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The environment and its relationship to the Type A behavior pattern in middle and old age, a pilot study
1School of Nursing, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064.
Psychological Reports
|June 1, 1990
Summary
Type A behavior, characterized by competitiveness and impatience, appears to develop in response to specific environmental triggers in older adults. This study explored how life events and surroundings influence Type A behavior patterns in aging individuals.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Type A Behavior Pattern (TABP) is associated with cardiovascular disease.
- Understanding TABP in older adults is crucial for health interventions.
- Environmental factors are hypothesized to influence TABP development and maintenance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between environmental factors and TABP in older adults.
- To compare the environments of old age with retrospective middle-age environments.
- To determine if environmental elicitors contribute to the emergence of TABP.
Main Methods:
- 97 older adults (21 men, 76 women, aged 68-97) completed several assessments.
- Assessments included the Geriatric Scale of Recent Life Events and the Jenkins Activity Survey.
- A specific measure assessed environmental factors related to TABP.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed between the current environment of old age and the recalled middle-age environment.
- Environmental factors were found to correlate with the presence of TABP.
- Results suggest a link between environmental stimuli and TABP manifestation.
Conclusions:
- Environmental factors play a significant role in the development and maintenance of Type A Behavior Pattern in older adults.
- Specific environmental elicitors appear to trigger the emergence of Type A behaviors.
- Further research should explore targeted interventions based on environmental triggers.