The Effects of the Type A Behavior Pattern and Sense of Coherence on Depressive Tendencies in Japanese College Students

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of the Type A behavior pattern (Type A) and sense of coherence (SOC) on depressive tendencies in Japanese college students. KG's Daily Life Questionnaire (Yamazaki et al., 1992), the 13 item Sense of Coherence scale (Yamazaki, 1999), and the Self-rating Depression Scale (Fukuda & Kobayashi, 1973) were used to assess Type A, SOC, and depressive tendencies, respectively. A two-way factorial analysis of variance of the data from 245 college students found that those who have higher Type A aggression-hostility showed higher depressive tendencies, and those who have higher SOC showed lower depressive tendencies. Additionally, those participants in the higher SOC group who have higher Type A speed-power showed lower depressive tendencies. These results suggest that depressive tendencies are related to aggression-hostility and speed-power of Type A, and SOC.