The relationship between Type A parenting and adolescent perceptions of family environment.

Type A Behavior Pattern (TABP) has been associated with negative health consequences and greater stress in interpersonal relationships. Yet, the substantive body of research has provided little direction regarding the etiology of TABP. One approach to address the etiological question is an examination of Type A parents and their children. In the present study of 940 subjects, global and component TABP parent-adolescent characteristics are examined in conjunction with family environment data. The results indicate that adolescents of Type A parents have higher Type A scores. Moreover, Type A parent-adolescent relationships vary depending on the Type A dimension measured and the gender of the parent-adolescent dyad. Further analyses indicate an independent contribution of perceived family environment to the development of TABP in adolescents. Directions for future research are discussed in light of the positive as well as negative aspects of life with a Type A parent.