Pathogenic and protective factors of type A behavior in adolescents.

This study was based on our previous findings, which suggested that there are two different Type A behaviors: aggressive, maladjusted competition combined with a low self-esteem and social competition combined with a high self-esteem and healthy ambitions. The hypothesis whether these factors are related to different risk levels of coronary artery disease was studied in 990 randomly selected adolescents. Type A behavior was self-evaluated by the subjects and assessed by their mothers using the AFMS questionnaire. Somatic risk variables were serum total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, serum triglycerides, body mass index, pulse frequency, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. It was found that a high level of serum lipids and pulse frequency were related to a low score on a suggested non-risk Type A factor and a high score on a suggested risk factor. Relationships between Type A factors and diastolic or systolic blood pressure were not found.