TYPE A BEHAVIOR, HARDINESS, AND THE SUBJECTIVE AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSE TO PERFORMANCE CHALLENGE (BLOOD PRESSURE, PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS, HEART RATE).
Item
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Title
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TYPE A BEHAVIOR, HARDINESS, AND THE SUBJECTIVE AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSE TO PERFORMANCE CHALLENGE (BLOOD PRESSURE, PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS, HEART RATE).
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Identifier
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AAI8515613
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identifier
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8515613
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Creator
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CONTRADA, RICHARD JUDE.
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Contributor
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Howard Ehrlichman
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Date
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1985
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Physiological
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Abstract
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Type A (coronary-prone) individuals show greater physiological responses to stress than (non-coronary-prone) Type B's. It has been proposed that biological reactivity contributes to enhanced coronary risk. However, while the relationship between Pattern A and reactivity appears reliable, the association is rather modest in magnitude. This has led to interest in psychosocial variables predicting physiological reactivity independently of, or in interaction with, Type A behavior.;Accordingly, the present study examined two factors in addition to Pattern A which may influence physiological reactivity to performance challenge: (1) Hardiness, a personality style which confers resistance against stress-induced illness, and (2) subjective responses, including performance strategies, affect, and attributions. It was predicted that Type A's low in Hardiness would show the greatest cardiovascular response while evincing inferior performance strategies, self-attribution for failure, and negative affect.;Pattern A and Hardiness were assessed in a sample of male undergraduates who subsequently performed a difficult psychomotor task. Periodic measurements were made of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and heart rate. Subjects verbalized thoughts and feelings while working on the task. Verbalizations were tape-recorded and transcribed for content analysis. Subjective responses also were obtained using a post-task questionnaire.;Results for cardiovascular measures confirmed predictions. Type A's showed greater SBP and DBP elevations than Type B's, and DBP responses were significantly higher among subjects low compared to high in Hardiness. Moreover, DBP data yielded a significant univariate interaction, indicating particularly low DBP elevations among Type B's high in Hardiness. However, the corresponding multivariate effect was not reliable. Verbalization measures did not confirm predictions regarding subjective responses. Post-task measures provided some support, but relevant multivariate tests were not reliable.;Discussion focuses on the possible role of reduced biological reactivity in mediating the salutory effects of Hardiness upon stress-induced illness. It also is proposed that a multivariate approach taking into account variables other than Pattern A, such as Hardiness, may contribute to greater understanding of psychophysiological hyperresponsiveness. Methodological factors influencing verbalization data are noted, along with ways of circumventing them in future research.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Psychology
