The prevalence and construct validity of type A behaviour in patients with duodenal ulcers.

The prevalence and construct validity of Type A behaviour were studied in 34 patients with duodenal ulcers, 35 patients with ulcerative colitis, 37 patients with irritable colon syndrome, 29 patients with gallstone disease and 44 patients with varicose veins. Type A behaviour was measured using the Swedish version of the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) supplemented with some items of the Matthews Youth Test for Health. The results showed that patients with duodenal ulcers scored more highly on Type A behaviour than any other group studied. Findings regarding the construct validity of Type A behaviour revealed its basic component to be impatience characterized by aggression, a chronic sense of time urgency and competitiveness. Some characteristics such as a sense of responsibility and social activity, conceptually part of the pattern, were found to be actually independent of it.