Self-Ratings of Type A (Coronary Prone) Adults: Do Type Aʼs Know They Are Type Aʼs?

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Abstract
This study compared self-ratings and interview-based ratings of the Type A coronary-prone behavior pattern. A Type A adjective scale was developed from the Gough-Adjective Checklist (ACL), using adjectives rates as characteristic and uncharacteristic of the Type A individual by a panel of 20 Type A researchers. Scores on this scale were compared with Type A ratings based on the structured interview. Results from a sample of 378 employed males indicate a significant linear relationship between self-ratings of Type A characteristics and interview-based Type A classification. Subsequent item analysis identified a subset of adjectives which were endorsed differentially by Type A and Type B individuals and a subset of descriptors which were not differentially endorsed by the 2 groups. Implications of these findings for assessment and intervention approaches to coronary-prone behavior are discussed.