Type A behavior pattern (Type A) is well-known as a factor adversely affecting physical and psychological symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine relationships between Type A and symptoms, along with a mediating role of psychological stress which also has adverse effects on symptoms.
Subjects were 243 college students (mean age 18.7 yrs), 91 women and 152 men. The subjects completed the Bortner's Type A behavior questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale for assessing psychological stress, and three subscales of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist for assessing somatization, depression, and anxiety.
Results of path analyses which controlled for age and gender confirmed that Type A has direct and indirect adverse effects on physical and psychological symptoms. It was found that Type A directly affected somatization and anxiety. In addition, Type A had indirect effects on somatization and anxiety, mediated by psychological stress; that is, Type A increased psychological stress, which in turn influenced somatization and anxiety. Moreover, it was found that relationships between Type A and depression were perfectly mediated by psychological stress. In other words, there was no direct effect of Type A on depression.
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