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Coronary prone behavior: components of the type A pattern and hostility
Insights
Investigating coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors, this study highlights the Type A behavior pattern (TABP). Component scoring, particularly for Potential for Hostility, offers a promising strategy for identifying at-risk individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychology
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) is influenced by various traditional and nontraditional risk factors.
- The Type A behavior pattern (TABP) has been extensively studied as a potential CHD risk factor.
- Previous research on global TABP has yielded mixed epidemiological evidence regarding its impact on CHD risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review epidemiological evidence on the Type A behavior pattern (TABP) as a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD).
- To explore the utility of component scoring of TABP, specifically focusing on the "toxic" component of Potential for Hostility.
- To examine the relationship between Potential for Hostility and established personality dimensions within the five-factor model.
Main Methods:
- Review of positive and negative epidemiological evidence concerning global TABP and CHD risk.
- Analysis of component scoring of TABP, with emphasis on Potential for Hostility.
- Correlational analysis between SI-derived ratings of Potential for Hostility and the five-factor model of personality (using subsamples from MRFIT and WCGS studies).
Main Results:
- Component scoring of TABP, particularly Potential for Hostility, is a valuable research strategy for identifying CHD risk.
- Potential for Hostility, especially the Style of interaction category, strongly correlates with Low Agreeableness or Antagonism.
- High Potential for Hostility ratings are associated with traits such as uncooperativeness, antagonism, and callousness.
Conclusions:
- Deconstructing TABP into components like Potential for Hostility provides a more nuanced understanding of coronary-prone behavior.
- The concept of coronary-prone behavior is evolving beyond the traditional TABP construct.
- Identifying individuals with high Potential for Hostility may aid in targeted interventions for CHD prevention.
Abstract:
Traditional and nontraditional risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) are discussed with special attention devoted to the Type A behavior pattern (TABP). Positive and negative epidemiological evidence bearing on the risk factors status of global TABP is reviewed. Results of the review suggest that component scoring of the multidimensional global TABP in attempts to uncover "toxic" components, particularly Potential for Hostility, is a profitable research strategy. Similarly, evidence is presented that suggests merit in component scoring of hostility, also a multidimensional construct. To explicate more fully the nature of Potential for Hostility and its categories, correlations between the SI-derived ratings and ratings of established dimensions of individual differences based on the five-factor taxonomic model of personality from subsamples of the MRFIT and WCGS studies are presented. Total Potential for Hostility and especially the Style of interaction category show highly significant relations to Low Agreeableness or Antagonism. High ratings of Potential for Hostility identify individuals who can be described as uncooperative, antagonistic, rude, disagreeable, unsympathetic, callous, and the like. Implications of the evolving concept of coronary-prone behavior, as distinguished from TABP, are briefly considered.