Type a Behaviour in the Australian Working Population

Abstract

The Type A behaviour pattern (TABP) has been widely researched in Australian studies and, in view of its increasing prominence beyond its original association with risk of coronary heart disease, is likely to be as widely researched in this country well into the future. The Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS), being the most comprehensive self-report instrument used to assess the TABP, appears to be the instrument of choice for the measurement of the TABP in Australia, particularly in epidemiological studies where large samples are involved, or in other studies where either the interview method is impractical or the researchers are untrained in its application. This paper presents normative data on the use of the JAS in the Australian context, derived from a series of empirical studies undertaken by the authors over the past decade. Socio-demographic correlates of these data are presented, and refinements of the JAS for future use are suggested.