Convergent validity of type A behavior pattern scales and their ability to predict physiological responsiveness in a...

The purpose of this study was to assess the construct validity of the structured interview (SI), Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS), Thurstone Activity Scale, and Bortner Type A Scale in a sample of female employees from a government service agency. Criteria for validity assessment were physiological reactance to a mental stressor, psychological strains experienced at work, physical symptoms associated with work, and urinary catecholamine production at work. A continuous Type A SI scale demonstrated better convergent and construct validity than did the SI category scores. All of the SI Type A scales were reliable. Among the questionnaire measures only the Thurstone Activity Scale was reliable and showed the strongest construct validity. The SI measures of Type A tended to correlate with physiological responsiveness (changes in heart rate, skin temperature, and skin conductance), while the questionnaire measures correlated with self-reports of job strains (satisfaction, irritation, depression, physical symptoms), thus indicating the operation of measurement artifacts in validity assessment. No significant correlations were obtained between Type A and catecholamines. Comparison of correlation analysis with subgroup analysis revealed the former to be a more powerful test of the relationships that may exist between Type A behavior pattern and relevant criteria.