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Type A, marital adjustment, and life stress
Journal of Behavioral Medicine
|October 1, 1986
Summary
Type A behavior and life stress can impact heart disease risk. Marital support may moderate this, but poor adjustment occurs in Type A husband/Type B wife pairings, suggesting complex relationship dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Type A behavior pattern and life stress are linked to increased heart disease risk.
- Social support, particularly marital support, may influence Type A behavior and moderate the stress-illness relationship.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interplay between Type A/B behavior, life stress, and marital adjustment in married couples.
- To examine how different husband-wife Type A/B pairings influence marital adjustment.
Main Methods:
- 101 married couples completed self-report measures.
- Assessed Type A-B status, recent life stress, and marital adjustment.
Main Results:
- The Type A husband/Type B wife pairing showed significantly lower marital adjustment.
- This pairing's poor adjustment may stem from the Type A husband's work orientation clashing with the Type B wife's home orientation.
Conclusions:
- Marital adjustment is influenced by the congruence of Type A/B behaviors within the couple.
- A Type A husband's career focus may negatively impact marriage unless the wife is also Type A.