As a part of an extensive research project 'Cardiovascular Risks in Young Finns ; this study examined the relationship between Type A behaviour and sports participation among adolescents. Subjects were 852 12- and 15-year-old boys and girls randomly selected from five Finnish university towns and their rural surroundings. Type A behaviour was categorized into two dimensions encompassing impatient- aggressive competitiveness (IAC) and responsible hard-driving (RHD). Level of participation in sport was measured by means of a short questionnaire. The results of the present study showed that active adolescents scored significantly higher on the RHD factor than passive adolescents in the four age-gender groups. Among boys, RHD increased with length of participation in competitive sport. Boys and girls participating in specifically competitive sports seemed to be a little more impatient and aggressive than those in non- competitive sports. The results of a 3-year follow-up study also showed that persistent participants and beginners (those who started training during the 3-year period) had a higher level of RHD than dropouts (those who ceased training during the 3-year period) and outsiders (those who did not participate at all), which may mean that organized sports tend to attract and retain participants who have certain psychological traits, rather than encouraging the development of those traits.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Adler, N. and Matthews, K. (1994). Health psychology: Why do some people get sick and some stay well?Annual Review of Psychology45:229-59.
2.
Bennett, J.C. (1991). The irrationality of the catharsis theory of aggression as justification foreducators' support of interscholastic footballPerceptual and Motor Skills72:415-418.
3.
Bennett, P. and Carroll, D. (1994). Cognitive-behavioural interventions in cardiac rehabilitationJournal of Psychosomatic Research38 (3):169-182.
4.
Brown, M.S. and Tanner, C. (1988). Type A behaviour and cardiovascular responsivity in preschoolersNursing Research73 :153-155.
5.
Byrne, B.M. (1996). Measuring self-concept across the lifespan: Issues and InstrumentationWashington, DC: American Psychological Association.
6.
Carver, C.S., DeGregorio, E. and Gillis, R. (1981). Challenge and Type A behaviour among intercollegiate football playersJournal of Sport Psychology3: 140-148.
7.
Dishman, R.K. (1990). Determinants of participation in physical activity In C. Bouchard, R.J. Shephard, T. Stephens, JR. Sutton and B.D. McPherson (eds). Exercise, fitness and health: A consensus of current knowledge.Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 75-101.
8.
Duda, J.L. (1986). A cross-cultural analysis of achievement motivation in sport and the classroom In L. Vandervelden and J. Humphrey (eds). Current selected research in the psychology and sociology of sport.New York: AMS, 117-131.
9.
Eby, C.E. and Gyn, G.H.V. (1987). Type A behaviour pattern in varsity athletesJournal of Sport Behaviour10:73-81.
10.
Goldstein, M.G. and Niaura, R. (1992). Psychological factors affecting the physiological condition — Cardiovascular disease literature reviewPsychosomatics33:134-145.
11.
Hinkle, J.S., Lyons, B. and Burke, K.L. (1989). Manifestation of Type A behaviour pattern among aerobic runnersJournal of Sport Behaviour12:131-138.
12.
Jasnoski, M.L., Cordray, D.S., Houston, B.K. and Osness, W.H. (1987). Modification of Type A behaviour through aerobic exerciseMotivation and Emotion11:1-17.
13.
Keltikangas-Järvinen, L. and Jokinen, J. (1989). Type A behaviour, coping mechanisms and emotions related to somatic risk factors of coronary heart disease in adolescentsJournal of Psychosomatic Research33:17-27.
14.
Keltikangas-Järvinen, L. and Räikkönen, K. (1989). Pathogenic and protective factors of Type A behaviour in adolescentsJournal of Psychosomatic Research33:591-602.
15.
Keltikangas-Järvinen. L. and Räikkönen, ( 1990). Healthy and maladjusted Type A behaviour in adolescentsJournal of Youth and Adolescence19:1-17.
16.
Leith, L.M. (1989). The effect of various physical activities, outcome, and emotional arousal on subject aggression scoresInternational Journal of Sport Psychology20:57-66.
17.
Lundberg, U. (1980). Type A behaviour and its relation to personality variables in Swedish male and female university studentsScandinavian Journal of Psychology21:133-138.
18.
Matthews, K.A. and Angulo, J. (1980). Measurement of the Type A behaviour pattern in children: assessment of children's competitiveness, impatience-anger, and aggressionChild Development51:466-475.
19.
Matthews, K.A. and Jennings, J.R. (1984). Cardiovascular responses of boys exhibiting Type A behaviour patternPsychosomatic Medicine46:484-497.
20.
Pargman, D. and Green, L. (1990). The Type A behaviour pattern and adherence to a regular running programme by adult males ages 25 to 39 yearsPerceptual and Motor Skills70:1040-1042.
21.
Roberts, G.C., Kleiber, D. and Duda, J. (1981) An analysis of motivation in children's sport: the role of perceived competence in participationJournal of Sport Psychology3(3):306-216.
22.
Räikkönen, K. (1990). Type A behaviour and coronary heart disease risk factors in Finnish children, adolescents and young adultsUniversity of Helsinki, Department of Psychology, Research Reports No. 2.
23.
Räitakari, O.T., Porkka, K., Taimela, S., Telama, R., Räsänen, L. and Viikari, J. (1994). Effects of persistent physical activity and inactivity on coronary risk factors in children and young adults — the cardiovascular risk in young Finns studyAmerican Journal of Epidemiology140:195-205.
24.
Schmied, L., Steinberg, H., Moss, R. and Sykes, E.A. (1994). Aerobic exercise and Type A behaviourJournal of Sports Sciences12:433-445.
25.
Secunda, M.D., Blau, B.I., Mcguire, J.M. and Burroughs, W.A. (1986). Psychobiomotor assessment of football-playing abilityInternational Journal of Sport Psychology17:215-233.
26.
Telama, R., Viikari, J. and Välimäki, I., et al., (1985). Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. X. Leisure-time physical activity In J. Viikari, H.K.Åkerblom, and M. Uhari (eds) Atherosclerosis precursors in children.Acta paediatr Scand, Suppl 318:169-180.
27.
Telama, R., Laakso, L. and Yang, X. (1994). Physical activity and participation in sports of young people in FinlandScand J Med Sci Sports, 4:65-74.
28.
Telama, R., Leskinen, E. and Yang, X. (1996). Stability of habitual physical activity and sport participation: A longitudinal tracking studyScand J Med Sci Sports, 6:371-378.
29.
Telama, R., Yang, X., Laakso, L. and Viikari, J. (1997). Physical activity in childhood and adolescence as predictor of physical activity in young adulthoodAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine, 13(4):317-323.
30.
Weiss, M.R. (1993). Psychological effects on intensive sport participation on children and youth: Self-esteem and motivation In B.R. Cahill and A.J. Pearl (eds) Intensive participation in children's sports.Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics , 39-69.
31.
Yang, X. (1993). Longitudinal analysis of Finnish children's and youths' participation in competitive sport and physical activity. Licentiate thesis in sport pedagogyUniversity of Jyväskylä, Finland.
32.
Yang, X. (1997). a multidisciplinary analysis of physical activity, sport participation and dropping out among young Finns — A 12-year follow-up study. Doctoral dissertation in sport pedagogyUniversity of Jyväskylä, Finland.
33.
Akerblom, H.K., Viikari, J. and Uhari, M., et al. (1985). Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. I. General description of the cross-sectional study of 1980, and an account of the children's and families' state of health In J. Viikri, H.K. Åkerblom, and M. Uhari (eds) Atherosclerosis precursors in children.Acta Paediatric Scand, Suppl 318, 49-63.
34.
Åkerblom, H.K., Uhari, M., and Pesonen, E., et al. (1991). Cardiovascular risk in young FinnsAnnals of Medicine, 23:35-39.
