LIFE EVENTS, PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND THE TYPE-A CORONARY-PRONE BEHAVIOR PATTERN

The relationship between life events and psychological distress was examined in Type A and Type B coronary-prone college students. The results indicated that Type A's report the occurrence of more life events than Type B's. In addition, examination of the perceived characteristics of the life events revealed different patterns for A's vs B's. Life events seen as undesirable, unexpected, and ambiguous in terms of perceived control were positively correlated with increased distress for Type A's. Type B's, on the other hand, were less distressed the more the event was perceived to be beyond their control. The results are discussed in terms of the differences in the Type A/B personality styles. © 1979.