Relationships among age, sex, the type A behavior pattern, and cardiovascular reactivity.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Most investigations of Type A behavior and cardiovascular responsivity have used age-homogeneous, male samples. In this study, heart rate (HR) and blood pressure responses were obtained from men and women, age 27 to 70, during mental arithmetic and a visual discrimination task called the Matching Familiar Figures test (MFF). Both tasks produced HR deceleration in Type A women and acceleration in Type B women, responses that decreased with age. Men's responses were not related to Type A behavior or age. Systolic pressure decreased in response to the MFF. This response became larger with age in Type Bs and smaller in Type As. Diastolic pressure also decreased during the MFF. Response amplitude increased with age in Type Bs but was unrelated to age in Type As. The results of this study indicate that the relationship between cardiovascular responding and Type A behavior is complex and may be different for men and women and for persons of different ages.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Harbin, TJ; Blumenthal, JA

Published Date

  • November 1985

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 40 / 6

Start / End Page

  • 714 - 720

PubMed ID

  • 4056327

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0022-1422

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1093/geronj/40.6.714

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States