Emotional distress and the Type A behaviour pattern in a sample of civil servants

Conflicting data have been reported on the coronary heart disease risks associated with the Type A behaviour. This has promoted the construct of somewhat novel theoretical possibilities of what might be plausible pathways of assessing the risk associated with the Type A behaviour pattern. One such possibility is the potential mediating effect of emotional distress in the risk equation of the Type A behaviour pattern. This possibility offered an opportunity to assess the association between expressions of negative emotions and the Type A behaviour pattern in a sample of 356 males and females in two public sector organisations in Papua New Guinea. These participants completed the Jenkins Activity Survey measuring self-reported expressions of the Type A behaviour pattern, and a measure on some common symptoms of emotional distress. The results showed overall that, the Speed and Impatient scale of the Jenkins Activity Survey was consistently related to expressions of negative emotions. This finding allows for comments on the possibility of exploring the relationship between the Type A behaviour pattern and coronary heart disease through other mediating and equally relevant psychosocial factors such as emotional distress.