Type A behaviour, problem‐solving style and health in male and female managers

Abstract

The relationship between Type A behaviour (TAB), problem‐solving style, and health was investigated in a sample of 79 middle managers (40 males and 39 females), using a questionnaire methodology. Health was divided into psychological well‐being, self‐rated physical healthiness, self‐rated frequency of illness and self‐rated health behaviour. Problem‐solving style was treated as a multidimensional construct and was measured in terms of six factors, helplessness, control, confidence, creativity, approach, and avoidance styles. Type As reported significantly more illness than Type Bs. In addition, a highly significant sex by TAB interaction was found on problem‐solving confidence and problem‐solving helplessness indicating that Type A females and Type B males were the more confident problem solvers and Type A females and Type B males felt less helpless in problem situations. On psychological well‐being, self‐rated healthiness and self‐rated health behaviour there were no differences between Type As and Type Bs. Multiple regression analysis showed that scores on TAB only accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in self‐rated frequency of illness. Problem‐solving style accounted for a significant proportion of the variance on all health measures.

The Effect of Statistics Anxiety on Students’ Predicted and Actual Test Scores

“…Higher scores on the scale indicate a problem-solving style where the person feels less helpless, to avoid problems. The scale has been used in a number of studies (e.g., Baker, 2003;Cassidy & Dhillon, 1997;Cassidy, 2004) where it has been shown to be reliable and valid as well as practically useful. A second order factor solution produces three factors: Alpha = 0.83), approach style (combining creativity and approach -Alpha = 0.78), and avoidance (combining avoidance and support-seeking -Alpha = 0.76).…”

Bullying and victimisation in school children: the role of social identity, problem-solving style, and family and school context

“…The scale has been used in a number of studies (e.g. Baker 2003;Cassidy and Dhillon 1997;Cassidy 2004) where it has been shown to be reliable and valid as well as practically useful. The scale had not been used previously in this age group, but the items were checked for level before use and the fact that participants had no difficulty with any of the items supports the researchers' view that it is suitable for use with older children.…”

Coping and Psychological Distress as a Function of the Bully Victim Dichotomy in Older Children

“…The scale has been used in a number of studies (e.g. Baker, 2003;Cassidy, 2004;Cassidy & Dhillon, 1997) where it has been shown to be reliable and valid as well as practically useful. The scale had not been used previously in this age group, but the items were checked for level before use and the fact that participants had no difficulty with any of the items supports the researchers' view that it is suitable for use with older children.…”

“…Cassidy and Long (1996) developed a six factor model of problem-solving style which includes control, helplessness, creativity, confidence, tendency to approach and tendency to avoid problems. The evidence suggests that those who have a generally positive problem-solving style are more resistant to the negative effects of stress, both psychologically and physiologically (Cassidy & Burnside, 1996;Cassidy & Dhillon, 1997). In addition to problem-solving style the other two social cognition variables which have emerged from the literature are perceived control and optimism (Cassidy, 1999).…”