The validity of type A behavior scales for employed women

The purpose of this study was to test the validity of the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) and the Framingham Type A Scale (FTAS) for employed women using structured interview ratings (SI) as the validating criterion. The sample consisted of 149 white females ages 30-42 who were employed full time. Forty-five percent were classified as Type A. The JAS Type A Scale provided better agreement with the SI (57%) than the FTAS (49%). Eleven items from all four scales of the JAS in combination with four FTAS items were identified by discriminant analysis. Using the resulting equation, 76.5% of the women were classified correctly as Type A or not Type A. It was concluded that neither the standardized version of the JAS Type A Scale nor the FTAS has a satisfactory degree of concurrent validity for measuring this behavior pattern in employed women. Investigators are cautioned against using either instrument to measure Type A behavior in women without recognition of their limitations.