"Type A behavior pattern and emotion expression in younger and older adults": Correction.

Reports an error in the original article by C. Malatesta-Magai et al (Psychology & Aging, 1992[Dec], Vol 7[4], 551–561). A citation that was inadvertently omitted from the original article is provided. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1993-17168-001.) 80 younger (M?=?28 yrs) and 80 older (>50 yrs, M?=?69 yrs) Type A and Type B Ss were evaluated for Type A behavior pattern using the Structured Interview (SI) and given personality tests for anxiety, depression, anger, aggression, hostility, and anger-in–anger-out. Ss also underwent an emotion induction procedure. Videotapes of the emotion induction procedure (N?=?160) and the SI (N?=?80) were coded for facial expression of emotion. Type As did not differ from Bs on anxiety or depression but did on anger and aggression. Type As showed anger inhibition and anger bound to shame, as predicted by emotion socialization theory. The greatest number of differential effects were observed between age groups. Older individuals, in general, were more emotionally expressive than younger Ss across a range of emotions. Women appeared more conflicted about anger expression than men, and Type A women more so than Type A men. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Biased reporting of therapist–patient sexual intimacy.

To investigate bias in reports of therapist–patient sexual intimacy, information about 559 patients who were sexually intimate with their previous therapists was collected via questionnaire from 318 psychologists who subsequently saw these patients in therapy. Psychologists, the experimental Ss in the present study, were predominantly aged 40–49 yrs, and 64% were male. It was found that Ss who reported that no harm occurred to patients as a result of therapist–patient sexual intimacy (SI) admitted twice the prevalence of SI between patients and themselves than did Ss in general. Those Ss who had experienced SI with patients were less likely to report adverse effects of SI either for patients or for therapy. Fewer Ss with a history of SI than those without reported anger toward offending therapists, and fewer recommended punishment. A higher percentage of female than male Ss reported anger toward offenders and recommended punishment, yet women did not rate the effects of SI as more harmful than did men. In general, anger toward offending therapists and recommendations for punishment were associated with the degree to which patients were thought to have been harmed. Ss who had been consultants to a greater number of other therapists about sexual contact with patients reported relatively more cases in which therapy ended soon after SI began than did Ss who were consulted by fewer therapists. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Standardization of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised for persons 75 years and older.

This project expanded the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) normative tables for the Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQs and age-corrected subtest scores to persons aged 75 yrs and older. A sample of 130 normal volunteers was selected according to 1983 census data on the variables of age, education, sex, and race. Means for age and education were 81.24 yrs (SD?=?5.24) and 9.54 yrs (SD?=?2.50). There were 74 White women, 42 White men, 9 Black women, and 5 Black men. Ss lived in the states of Kansas (60.7%), Missouri (34.6%), and Iowa (4.6%), with 90% residing in urban centers and 10% in rural communities. All Ss were administered a complete WAIS—R by trained examiners. On the basis of the raw scores, Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQ conversion tables were developed separately for persons 75–79 yrs of age (n?=?60) and aged 80 yrs and older (n?=?70). Conversion tables (M?=?10; SD?=?3) for age-corrected scaled scores were also developed for both age groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of age, sex, and family on Type A and hostile attitudes and behaviors.

Studied the influence of age, sex, and family on Type A and hostility indices that have been related to rates of coronary heart disease (CHD). Ss were 119 girls and 95 boys (aged 6–18 yrs) and 141 women and 120 men (aged 31–62 yrs) from 142 families. Results showed little familial aggregation of Type A behavior and hostility. Adults had higher Structured Interview (SI) potential-for-hostility ratings than did children, whereas children had higher MMPI-derived hostility scores and SI anger-in ratings than did adults. Male adults and male children had higher SI potential-for-hostility ratings and MMPI-derived hostility scores than did their female counterparts. The heightened hostility of males may account, in part, for their heightened risk of CHD relative to females. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological predictors of heart disease: A quantitative review.

A meta-analysis, or quantitative review, was performed to integrate and organize the results of studies that investigated certain personality variables in relation to coronary heart disease (CHD). The personality variables included were anger, hostility, aggression, depression, extroversion, anxiety, Type A, and the major components of Type A. The meta-analytic framework helps focus attention on issues needing clarification. The results indicate that modest but reliable associations exist between some of the personality variables and CHD. The strongest associations were found for Type A and, surprisingly, for depression, but anger/hostility/aggression and anxiety also related reliably to CHD. The Structured Interview diagnosis of Type A was shown to be clearly superior to the Jenkins Activity Survey as a predictor of CHD. The Type A–CHD relation was smaller in prospective than in cross-sectional studies and smaller in recent than in less recent studies. This review also revealed that information about the interrelations of personality predictors of CHD is sorely needed. The picture of coronary-proneness revealed by this review is not one of a hurried, impatient workaholic but instead is one of a person with one or more negative emotions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluations of older and younger adult speakers: Influence of communication effectiveness and noise.

University students (N?=?96) performed 3 communication tasks presented to them either by young men (mean age?=?26 yrs) or by older men (mean age?=?77 yrs). In counterbalanced order, students heard speakers in 3 message conditions (effective, ineffective, and noise). The messages of older men and the older men themselves were evaluated less positively than were younger men. In line with the hypothesis of age-biased behavioral interpretation, older adults speaking effectively were not accorded the same evaluative benefits over their less-effective guises, especially on competence ratings, as were younger speakers. Furthermore, the noise condition was predictably more detrimental to ratings of the older speakers, who were more vulnerable to generalized negative affect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender differences in negative affectivity among university faculty members.

Negative affectivity (NA) and Type A behavior were assessed in a sample of 96 male and female university teachers. In general, female Ss scored lower than did male Ss on NA. The difference between men and women on the NA component of hostility was quite profound. A small yet significant Gender–TABP (Type A behavior pattern) interaction effect was found in which high Type A women exhibited less NA (principally in the form of trait anxiety) than did high Type A men. Because NA has been related to both psychological and physical health complaints, some speculations are offered concerning physical and psychological health differences between men and women (at least within university faculties). The possibility is also raised of there being different psychological and physical consequences for being high on anger and/or Type A in women vs men. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Affect and age: Cross-sectional comparisons of structure and prevalence.

The self-reports of 207 young-adult (aged 18–30 yrs), 231 middle-aged (aged 31–59 yrs), and 828 older-adult (aged 60 yrs and over) Ss were used to study the structure of affect. Affects were represented by terms included in various circumplex arrays of emotions as presented by previous investigators. A set of 46 affects was subjected to exploratory analysis, and a final set of 38 affects was subjected to confirmatory factor analysis. The goodness of fit of each group's factor loadings to the hypothesized factors of positive affect, depression, anxiety–guilt, contentment, hostility, and shyness was not up to the desired .90 level, and some significant differences in factor structure were observed for each age-group comparison. There were few age differences in levels of positive affect. Depression was most frequent among younger Ss and least frequent among older Ss. Younger Ss were most often anxious and shy. Older Ss were most often content and least often hostile. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anger, hostility, and depression in domestically violent versus generally assaultive men and nonviolent control subjects.

Anger, hostility, and depression were examined across four groups: a clinical sample of domestically violent men, two samples of more generally assaultive men, and a nonviolent control group. All subjects (N?=?129) were assessed using the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression Inventory. The domestically violent men and the generally assaultive men evidenced significantly higher levels of anger and hostility than the control subjects. The anger and hostility scores were very similar in the domestically violent and the generally assaultive men. However, the domestically violent men were more likely to be significantly depressed. The findings support the idea that anger dyscontrol is a key issue in the psychological profile of domestically violent men and indicate the need for clinical attention to depression as well as anger. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Episodic spatial memory in adulthood.

Two experiments examined age-related differences in memory for spatial location information in a museum exhibit (Exp 1) and in a secretarial office (Exp 2). In Exp 1, Ss were the visitors to the exhibit (N?=?302, 15–74 yrs of age), and memory was assessed using a map test. In Exp 2, Ss were 64 young adults (M?=?21.2 yrs) and 32 older adults (M?=?71.2 yrs), and memory was assessed using both a map test and a relocation test. The relocation test required Ss to replace the to-be-remembered targets where they appeared at study. Exp 1 showed an age-related decline in spatial memory performance, and it placed the onset of this decline in the 6th decade of life. Exp 2 showed an age-related decline on both tests, but age effects were smaller on the relocation test than on the map test, and when Ss knew that spatial memory would be tested than when they were not informed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Brief Symptom Inventory: Measuring psychological distress in spinal cord injury.

Explored the appropriateness of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) as a measure of psychological distress among 79 traumatic spinal cord injured (SCI) patients (aged 18–70 yrs) and emphasized the limitations of using the BSI as a replacement for the SCL-90—Revised (SCL-90—R). Ss' BSI scores were compared with a nonpatient normative group (N?=?974). Ss were significantly more psychologically distressed in somatization, depression, and phobic anxiety than the normative group. However, several somatization symptoms endorsed by these Ss are common physical effects of SCI rather than psychosomatic complaints. When comparing BSI and SCL-90—R scores of the same Ss, significant statistical differences were found with respect to the level of psychological distress being reported by each test. The BSI may not represent an equivalent abbreviated form of the SCL-90—R for the SCI population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Age differences in self-perceptions of Type A traits.

Examined whether self-perceptions of Type A (coronary prone) behavior changed during adulthood in 211 Ss from 4 age groups (30–39, 40–49, 50–59, and 60–69 yrs) who completed a Type A scale derived from the Adjective Checklist. Ss were asked to provide both concurrent and retrospective self-assessments of Type A behaviors. It was found that age and self-rated Type A traits were not significantly related. However, changes in self-perceptions of Type A traits did appear to be age-related: Ss aged 30–39 yrs perceived themselves as becoming more Type A, while Ss aged 40+ yrs perceived themselves as becoming less Type A. This shift in Type A self-perception was most prominent in Ss aged 60+ yrs. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stress processes and depressive symptomatology.

75 community-residing married White couples (age ranges for husbands and wives were 26–54 yrs and 35–45 yrs, respectively) were interviewed once a month for 5 mo about the most stressful encounter they had experienced the previous week. Depressive symptomatology was assessed monthly with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Ss high and low in depressive symptoms were compared on appraisal, coping, emotion, and encounter outcome. Compared with Ss low in depressive symptoms, those high in symptoms felt they had more at stake in stressful encounters; used more confrontative coping, self-control, and escape-avoidance, and accepted more responsibility; and responded with more disgust/anger and worry/fear. The overall pattern suggested that high-depressive Ss were more vulnerable and hostile than those who were low. However, high-depressive Ss were not negative in all facets of their appraisal and coping processes. (43 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Age at first onset for nonbipolar depression.

Examined the onset age distribution for first episodes of unipolar depression for men and women using 2,046 Ss (aged 18–88 yrs) selected for a diagnostic interview on the basis of elevated scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Of those Ss interviewed, 1,012 were diagnosed as having suffered from a previous episode of depression. The Life Table method (S. Anderson et al [1980]; J. D. Kalbfeisch and R. L. Prentice [1980]) was used to describe the risks associated with different ages for developing an initial episode of depression. The results indicate that the hazard rates are very low through age 14 yrs, increase during adolescence (15–29 yrs) and young adulthood (20–24 yrs), peak between 45 and 55 yrs, and then decrease with increasing age, becoming zero at 80 yrs or older. The hazard rates for men and women differed, with women between the ages of 9 and 69 yrs having higher hazard rates than men between the same ages. The average age at onset for first episodes of depression for men and women did not differ. (53 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Aggression and psychopathology in childhood firesetters: Parent and child reports.

Compared hospitalized disturbed children between 5 and 13 yrs of age identified as firesetters (n?=?31) and nonfiresetters (n?=?32) on several dimensions of aggressiveness and psychopathology. The Ss and a parent (mother or female guardian) were interviewed separately. The parent completed the Child Behavior Checklist, the Hostility-Guilt Inventory derived from the Buss-Durkee Hostility-Guilt Inventory, and an interview for aggression. The 2 aggression measures were also administered to the Ss. The study permitted separation of the influence of firesetting from a diagnosis of conduct disorder in contributing to the symptoms evinced by the Ss. Results indicate that firesetters engaged in more delinquent and antisocial behaviors than nonfiresetters. Firesetters also evinced social skills deficits and a broad range of aggressive behaviors beyond their primary symptom. These results were obtained even when analyses were restricted to Ss who were diagnosed as conduct disordered. The findings elaborate on the clinical picture of firesetting children and suggest that firesetting may emerge late in a sequence of antisocial symptoms involving more extreme overt and covert acts. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Long-term effects of fluid ability training in old-old age.

This study examined the effects of multiple phases of cognitive training on older adults' intellectual performance over a 7-year period as Ss advanced from young-old to old-old age. The study involved a pretest–posttest/no-treatment control-group design. At each of 3 training phases, conducted in 1979, 1981, and 1986, Ss received 5 training sessions on the fluid ability of figural relations. Participants (N?=?38) had a mean age of 69 yrs (range?=?63–80) at the onset of the study. Results showed that (1) significant training effects occurred at each of the 3 study phases, when Ss had mean ages of 69, 71, and 77 yrs; (2) the largest training gains were made in the 1st training phase; and (3) as a function of multiple phases of training, Ss in their 70s and early 80s performed significantly above their baseline level of figural relations performance 7 yrs previously. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender role conflict and psychological well-being among gay men.

The authors used the Gender Role Conflict Scale, Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale, and Hopkins Symptom Checklist to examine the relation of gender role conflict to certain aspects of (N?=?117) gay men's psychological experience. Gay men with less gender role conflict had a more positive view of seeking psychological help and reported fewer symptoms of anger, anxiety, and depression. On the basis of these findings, some tentative counseling implications are considered and directions for future research are proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Children's emotional experience: Relations among expression, self-report, and understanding.

Assessed the influence of social evaluation on children's emotional experience and understanding. 66 younger and older children (M ages?=?7.12 and 12.06 yrs) were videotaped as they played a game, during which they received mild positive or negative feedback from another child of the same age and gender. Children's emotion report and understanding of their emotional responses were obtained in a postgame interview. Feedback valence influenced children's emotion expression, self-report, and their understanding of emotion. Girls displayed more positive and negative emotion than boys in response to social feedback and were also more accurate in reporting their initial facial expression. Although younger and older children did not differ in mean level of understanding of emotion, only older children used the most sophisticated types of explanations for their emotions. Overall, emotion expression, self-report, and understanding were more closely related after positive than negative feedback. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Speed of recovery from major depressive episodes in a community sample of married men and women.

A discrete-time survival analysis of recovery from major depressive episodes for a sample of married Ss (N?=?119) identified several significant predictors of recovery including comorbidity for anxiety disorders or substance abuse, social support, age, and education. Furthermore, the analysis distinguished between different sources and types of social support, documenting that spouses' positive responses to the depression predict rapid recovery whereas the perception that friendships are conflictual predicts slow recovery. Finally, the analysis documented changes in the importance of predictor variables over the course of the episode. Specifically, spouse's negative reactions to the depression and S's education level became more important predictors of recovery as the episode became longer, and the recovery advantage experienced by younger respondents lessened over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)