Type A behavior and cardiovascular responsivity in preschoolers

Type A behavior was investigated in preschool children in relation to cardiovascular reactivity. One hundred forty-four children from 3 1/2 to 6 1/2 years of age were categorized by their teachers according to the Matthews Youth Test for Health as Type A, Mixed, or Type B. The children's pulse, pulse rate variability, and blood pressure were then measured at rest and during a challenging situation. Analysis of covariance indicated that Type A children showed a significantly greater systolic rise to challenge than did Type B children, a finding similar to that of Type A adults, college students, and adolescents.     

The psychometric characteristics of the preschool behavior questionnaire in preschoolers with developmental handicaps

Parents and teachers rated 34 preschoolers with developmental handicaps on the Preschool Behavior Questionnaire (PBQ) (Behar and Stringfield, 1974a); student assistants rated 11 children. Approximately four weeks later, parents and teachers rerated the children. Shortly after the first rating, 14 of the older subjects were assessed by direct observations for classroom behavior and were tested on a Continuous performance Task (CPT) and the Marble Dropping Task (Zigler, 1961). Interrater agreement was generally modest to moderately high for the disruptive subscales of the PBQ (Hostile-Aggressive and Hyperactive-Distractible), whereas agreement was usually unsatisfactory for the Anxious-Fearful subscale. Test-retest reliability was high for ratings by both parents and teachers. Data from the direct observations and from the CPT and Marble Dropping tasks failed to validate the parent ratings, whereas they provided moderate support for the validity of teacher ratings on the disruptive subscales. We concluded that parent ratings on the PBQ do have some utility but that extreme scores derived from parent ratings should be interpreted with caution. Reliability appears to be adequate to good on the disruptive behavior subscales for teacher ratings, and existing relationships with other measures support the validity of the subscales assessing disruptive behavior. The PBQ appears to be useful for assessing preschoolers with developmental handicaps, although our data suggest limitations as well.     

失眠症患者的 A型人格特征和防御方式

目的探讨失眠症患者的人格特征与防御方式,以及二者的相关性. 方法对广州市番禺区岐山医院精神科门诊的 57例失眠症患者和 49名正常人进行防御方式问卷( DSQ)和 A型行为问卷( TABQ)测查. 结果失眠症患者 A型行为发生率( 70%)显著高于正常对照组( 30%),差异有显著性(χ 2=16.521, P< 0.001);失眠症的 TABQ总分( 28.16± 7.85)和时间匆忙感因子分( 14.18± 4.79)显著高于正常对照组,差异有显著性 (t=2.469,2.378;P< 0.05);失眠症患者较少使用成熟型防御方式,较多使用掩饰 , 与正常对照组比较,差异有显著性( P< 0.01); TABQ总分及时间匆忙感、争强好胜因子分与不成熟防御方式、中间型防御方式呈极显著正相关( r=0.195～ 0.467,P< 0.001),与成熟型防御方式呈负相关 (r=- 0.176～- 0.147). 结论失眠症患者 A型行为发生率较高,具有 A型行为特征的失眠症患者更多使用不成熟和中间型防御方式.     

Type A behavior and coronary heart disease

Coronary-prone (Type A) behavior is an independent risk factor for ischemic heart disease (coronary heart disease). Recent investigations indicate that modification of Type A behavior is possible and that such treatment reduces the likelihood of subsequent coronary events. Type A behavior is not difficult to recognize in day-to-day family practice. By recognizing and responding to coronary-prone behavior, family physicians can play an active role in the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease.     

Temperament, behavior problems, and learning skills in very low birth weight preschoolers

The relationship between temperament, behavior problems, and learning skill abilities in preschool children who were born with very low birth weight (VLBW) is described. Subjects were 37 4-year-olds who weighed less than 1,500 grams at birth, were appropriate for gestational age, and free from congenital anomalies (M birth weight = 1,201 grams). Data were gathered when the children were 48 months chronological age and analyzed using point biserial and Pearson product moment correlation, chi square, and MANOVA. Temperament characteristics of rhythmicity, intensity, and persistence were related to behavior problems and learning skill abilities. Mothers reported more children with behavior problems than expected in the general population. Children with four or more behavior problems had significantly lower skill achievement scores than children with fewer behavior problems.     

Performance standards and the Type A behavior pattern

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that Type A subjects set higher performance standards than Type B subjects. In the context of a course in introductory psychology, subjects set a performance standard (percentile rank) prior to the midterm examination. Performance feedback in terms of percentile rank was offered and satisfaction ratings were obtained. Five weeks later, subjects once again set standards for the final examination. The major hypothesis was supported in that A's set significantly higher performance standards than B's for both examinations, despite the fact that actual performance among the groups was similar. Further, Type B subjects based subsequent standards on prior behavioral outcomes, while Type A subjects evidenced a traitlike style of establishing high standards independent of prior outcomes. No sex effects were noted. The present findings replicate and extend previous research, and the implications for a model of self-regulation are discussed.Portions of this paper were presented at the Third Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Chicago, 1982.     

Type A behavior and cardiovascular responses during verbalization in cardiac patients

While the physiological mechanisms linking Type A behavior pattern (TABP) to increased coronary heart disease (CHD) risk are unknown, extreme cardiovascular reactivity to daily activities and stressors has been proposed as a mechanism for promoting the progression of atherosclerosis and CHD. Verbalization, either talking or reading aloud, is known to cause significant increases in the blood pressure and heart rates of individuals, including cardiac patients. Blood pressure and heart rate responses of 111 Type A and Type B cardiac patients during verbalization were examined in this study. Blood pressure and heart rate increased significantly during verbalization for all patients. The TABP, measured with both the structured interview and the Jenkins Activity Survey, had little relation to cardiovascular responses.     

A型行为与冠状动脉病变程度的关联

目的:探讨冠状动脉狭窄程度与A型行为评分之间的关系,了解冠心病患者A型行为分布情况。方法:①选择2001-04/2004-03在济宁医学院附属金乡医院心内科住院胸痛、胸闷或疑似胸痛患者186例,男133例,女53例。均自愿参加。将受试者根据冠状动脉造影结果分为两组,冠心病组(至少一支主要冠状动脉和/或分支直径狭窄≥50%)126例,对照组(任何一支冠状动脉直径狭窄<50%)60例。再根据冠状动脉狭窄程度将冠心病组分为3个亚组:轻度组(前降支或回旋支单支闭塞≥50%)44例;中度组(前降支、回旋支或右冠状动脉有两处病变,至少有一处闭塞≥70%,<90%)43例;重度组(前降支、回旋支及右冠状动脉有多处病变,至少有一处病变≥90%)39例。②评估冠心病患者行为类型采用A型行为问卷(包括3个分量表:时间匆忙感量表;竞争意识量表;掩饰量表,掩饰<7为有效问卷。根据时间匆忙感+竞争意识总分分为A型行为36～50,中间偏A型行为特征28～35,极端中间型27,中间偏B型行为特征19～26,B型行为特征1～18)。③对冠心病行为类型分布、A型行为评分与不同冠状动脉狭窄之间的关系进行分析。④计数资料的统计叙述用百分率表示,采用χ2检验,计量资料差异性测定采用方差分析,两两对比采用t检验。结果:冠心病患者186例均进入结果分析。①冠心病患者的A型行为分布:冠心病组A型行为比例高于对照组(34.1%,13.3%,P<0.01),重度狭窄组A型行为比例高于轻度狭窄组(49%,23%,P<0.05)。②A型行为模式问卷因子分比较结果:竞争意识因子和竞争意识+时间匆忙感因子得分随着冠状动脉狭窄程度的加重而明显升高(竞争意识因子:轻度狭窄组、中度狭窄组、重度狭窄组分别为14.25±3.15,16.13±4.78,18.03±3.12;竞争意识+时间匆忙感因子:轻度狭窄组、中度狭窄组、重度狭窄组分别为27.22±7.31,30.21±6.56,32.78±5.78,P<0.05),且均明显高于对照组(12.87±3.25,24.59±6.50,P<0.05)。中度狭窄组和重度狭窄组患者时间匆忙感因子得分明显高于对照组(P<0.05);重度狭窄组患者时间匆忙感因子得分明显高于轻度狭窄组(P<0.05)。结论:A型行为在冠心病患者中分布较多;A型行为性格特征越明显,冠状动脉病变程度越严重。     

A型行为与冠状动脉病变程度的关联

目的：探讨冠状动脉狭窄程度与A型行为评分之间的关系，了解冠心病患者A型行为分布情况。方法：①选择2001-04／2004-03在济宁医学院附属金乡医院心内科住院胸痛、胸闷或疑似胸痛患者186例，男133例，女53例。均自愿参加。将受试者根据冠状动脉造影结果分为两组，冠心病组（至少一支主要冠状动脉和／或分支直径狭窄≥50％）126例，对照组（任何一支冠状动脉直径狭窄〈50％）60例。再根据冠状动脉狭窄程度将冠心病组分为3个亚组：轻度组（前降支或回旋支单支闭塞≥50％）44例；中度组（前降支、回旋支或右冠状动脉有两处病变，至少有一处闭塞≥70％，〈90％）43例；重度组（前降支、回旋支及右冠状动脉有多处病变，至少有一处病变≥90％）39例。②评估冠心病患者行为类型采用A型行为问卷（包括3个分量表：时间匆忙感量表；竞争意识量表；掩饰量表，掩饰〈7为有效问卷。根据时间匆忙感＋竞争意识总分分为A型行为36-50，中间偏A型行为特征28～35，极端中间型27，中间偏B型行为特征19-26，B型行为特征1-18）。③对冠心病行为类型分布、A型行为评分与不同冠状动脉狭窄之间的关系进行分析。④计数资料的统计叙述用百分率表示，采用X^2检验，计量资料差异性测定采用方差分析，两两对比采用t检验。结果：冠心病患者186例均进入结果分析。①冠心病患者的A型行为分布：冠心病组A型行为比例高于对照组（34.1％，13．3％，P〈0.01），重度狭窄组A型行为比例高于轻度狭窄组（49％，23％，P〈0．05）。②A型行为模式问卷因子分比较结果：竞争意识因子和竞争意识＋时间匆忙感因子得分随着冠状动脉狭窄程度的加重而明显升高（竞争意识因子：轻度狭窄组、中度狭窄组、重度狭窄组分别为14．25&;#177;3．15，16．13&;#177;4．78，18.03&;#177;3．12；竞争意识＋时间匆忙感因子：轻度狭窄组、中度狭窄组、重度狭窄组分别为27．22&;#177;7．31，3021&;#177;6.56，32．78&;#177;5．78，P〈0．05），且均明显高于对照组（12．87&;#177;3．25，24．59&;#177;6．50，P〈0．05）。中度狭窄组和重度狭窄组患者时间匆忙感因子得分明显高于对照组（P〈0．05）；重度狭窄组患者时间匆忙感因子得分明显高于轻度狭窄组（P〈0．05）。结论：A型行为在冠心病患者中分布较多；A型行为性格特征越明显，冠状动脉病变程度越严重。     

Arbi Care: an innovative educational game to increase healthy behavior in diarrhea prevention among preschoolers

Innovation is needed to improve healthy behaviors of children in order to prevent diarrhea. Education through games is widely recommended as a way to change behavior in children. This study describes the process of developing an educational game to increase healthy behaviors of preschool children. This study used research and development design techniques with four stages, including: define, design, develop, and disseminate. Observation sheets were used to assess the effectiveness of the game in educating children. The process of developing this educational game included several phases: 1) exploration of the characteristics of games favored by children; 2) design of the intervention based on games preferred by children; 3) validation of the game prototype by experts and testing of the game by preschool children, and 4) revision of the game in order to obtain a game focused on diarrhea prevention that can be used as a behavioral health intervention. Results showed that in testing of the game by ten preschool were able to play and understand the message of the game 92% of the time. The results showed that the Arbi Care game can be used as a learning device to increase healthy behavior in preschool children.     

Type A behavior and physiological cardiovascular risk factors in school-age twin children

The relationship of Type A behavior pattern (TABP) and its components to physiological cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors of blood pressure, obesity, and lipids and lipoproteins was examined in 112 pairs of twin children. Blood pressure, triceps skinfold thickness, and fasting venous specimens for lipid profiles were collected during a home visit. Teachers rated children's Type A-B behaviors using the Matthews Youth Test for Health (MYTH) (Matthews & Angulo, 1980). For statistical analyses, one member of each twin pair was assigned to Group I and the co-twin to Group II. In Groups I and II, significant, p less than or equal to .01, negative correlations between the impatience-aggression component of TABP and atherogenic lipids were observed before and after covariate adjustments. Children were classified as MYTH Type A or B on the basis of a median-split. Marginally significant differences (B greater than A) were found between the mean lipid levels of Type A and Type B children. No significant A-B differences in blood pressure or measures of obesity were observed in either group. Multivariate analysis of variance results suggested that lipid profiles in Group I differed significantly, p less than or equal to .02, by Type A-B classification. The results of this study suggest that TABP and its components are not positively associated with physiological risk factors for CVD; and the impatience-aggression component of TABP is associated with lower levels of atherogenic lipids.     

Type A behavior and coronary heart disease: an update

In the 1970s, Type A behavior became a popular topic of discussion after it was identified as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Although recent articles have left many physicians wondering whether Type A behavior is truly unhealthy, much evidence still supports this association. Recognition of overt Type A behavior in clinical practice is usually possible without formal testing if the physician is alert to the motor behavior, speech behavior, hostile attitude and physiologic markers that characterize Type A individuals.     

Type A behavior pattern shortens length of stay in comprehensive rehabilitation units

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to describe the importance of patient-related factors in rehabilitation. We focused on the type A behavior pattern. If individuals with the type A behavior pattern have better compliance, they would have a shorter length of hospital stay than those with non-type A behavior. We compared the length of stay of patients with the type A behavior pattern with that of patients with a non-type A behavior pattern. [Subjects and Methods] Fifty-seven patients staying in a comprehensive rehabilitation unit participated in this study. Type A behavior pattern, length of stay, and Barthel Index were assessed. We use the Student’s t-test to examine the statistical differences in length of stay and Barthel Index at discharge between subjects with type A behavior and those without type A behavior. [Results] Age and Barthel Index at discharge were not significantly different between the two groups. However, length of stay was significantly higher in the non-type A group compared with the type A group. [Conclusion] Patients with the type A behavior pattern had a shorter length of hospital stay than patients with a non-type A behavior pattern. In conclusion, our results suggest that the type A behavior pattern shortens the length of hospital stay. Those data show that we should consider the patient’s characteristics in rehabilitation to protect the patient and for financial benefit.Key words: Length of stay, Type A behavior pattern, Patient-related factors     

Using motivating operations to evoke question-asking behavior can be effective in teaching language skills to preschoolers with autism1

Harjusola-Webb, S., &; Robbins, S. H. (2012). The effects of teacher-implemented naturalistic intervention on the communication of preschoolers with autism. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 32(2), 99–110.

Source of funding and disclosure of interest: The authors stated that no financial support was received for this study. Original authors reported that there were no conflicts of interest.     

A comparison of consultative model and direct-indirect intervention with preschoolers.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a consultative model of intervention with that of direct-indirect intervention for meeting goals of preschool students with mild motor delays. METHOD: Two occupational therapists provided consultation to teams working with 11 children 1 day a week for all 40 weeks of the school year. A different occupational therapist provided direct-indirect treatment to another 9 children for a full week every 3 weeks for the 40 weeks of the school year. Data for both groups used in this study were kept for the last 4 months at the end of the school year or as the children appeared to be nearing completion of their goals of the study. All therapists met with their teams twice a month to plan and review progress. All parents carried out activities with their children at home. Goal Attainment Scaling was used to examine progress. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the two types of intervention (t = .359; df = 18; p = .724). CONCLUSION: The study suggests that a consultative model and a direct-indirect model are equally effective in meeting objectives for preschoolers with relatively mild motor impairments.     

Measurement of inappropriate behavior associated with dementia.

Inappropriate behaviors in dementia affect caregivers, causing depression, burden, stress, and affecting caregivers' social life, morale, and somatic health. These behaviors also may signal that the elderly individuals with dementia are distressed and because of a combination of inappropriate behaviors and loss of communication skills, these individuals may not receive adequate assessment or treatment. This article discusses the assessment of behavior problems in elderly individuals suffering from dementia. The following issues are addressed: the need for assessment; difficulties in assessment of inappropriate behaviors; approaches to the assessment of behavior problems, including caregiver ratings, observational methods, and technological devices; and issues in the clinical use of assessments.