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No 1, 43-47
Colegio Oficial de Psic—logos. Spain
This paper presents new research on the Type A behaviour scale ERCTA (Escala Retiro de Patr—n de Conducta Tipo A),
developed with a Spanish population. The scale, with eight items, was applied to two groups: normal subjects, and subjects
with cardiovascular disorders. We show the validity and reliability of the scale by means of: alpha coefficients, factor analy-
sis and means differences, to demonstrate its internal consistency, construct validity and criterion-related validity. Factor
analysis (principal components, varimax rotation) shows a structure of two factors. Factor 1 would be related with a posi-
tive work orientation, while Factor 2 may be related to work stress. Item 8 (emotional expression), which in other studies
appeared isolated from this bifactorial structure, is now related to the second factor.
En este art’culo se presenta una nueva investigaci—n con la escala de conducta Tipo A, ERCTA, desarrollada con una pobla-
ci—n espa–ola. Esta escala, de ocho ’tems, se ha aplicado a sujetos normales y a pacientes con enfermedades card’acas.
Mostramos la validez y fiabilidad de la escala mediante los coeficientes alfa, an‡lisis factorial, y significaci—n de diferen-
cias de medias, para demostrar su consistencia interna, as’ como su validez de constructo y de criterio. El an‡lisis facto-
rial (componentes principales, rotaci—n varimax) muestra una estructura de dos factores. El Factor 1 podr’a relacionarse
con una orientaci—n positiva hacia el trabajo, mientras que el Factor 2 puede estar relacionado con tensi—n o estrŽs labo-
ral. El ’tem 8 (expresi—n de las emociones), que en otros estudios apareci— aislado de esta estructura bifactorial, aparece
aqu’ relacionado con el segundo factor.
INTRODUCTION the probability of cancer (Grossarth-Maticek and
Type A behaviour pattern (TABP) has its origin in Eysenck, 1990, Grossarth et al., 1988: cf. the review by
Friedman and RosenmanÕs (1974) description of beha- Eysenck, 1991). These models, however, have yet to be
viours made from observations carried out in the 1950s. tested in wide-ranging and well-controlled studies
These authors propose that the TABP implies trait cha- (Amelang et al., 1996).
racteristics in the person which, in interaction with cer- Among the TABP scales that have been translated and
tain environmental events, result in certain behaviours. used extensively in our country, we should mention that
Among the characteristics included in the TABP are: of Bortner (Bortner Rating Scale) (Bortner, 1969; cf.
competitiveness, aggressiveness, irritability, work orien- Flores and cols., 1985; Del Pino and cols., 1992), the
tation, worrying about deadlines, urgency, etc. From a Framingham Type A Scale (Haynes et al., 1978; cf. Del
physical point of view this manifests itself in general Pino and cols., 1990; Garc’a Fern‡ndez-Abascal, 1994),
tension, an explosive style of speech, a state of alertness, and that of Jenkins (Jenkins Activity Survey) (Jenkins,
urgent behavior style and irritability, among other cha- Zyzanski and Rosenman, 1979; cf. Garc’a Fern‡ndez-
racteristics (cf. Friedman and Rosenman, 1974; Abascal, 1994).
Matthews, 1988). In recent years, it has been attempted Based on the existing measures, we developed a new
to integrate the vectors of isolated behaviour patterns in instrument (see Appendix), with a small number of
more organised models Ðor typologiesÐ that include items, 8, and a short application time, around five minu-
also, for example, behaviours that supposedly increase tes, and whose main objective is the detection (scree-
ning) of TABP in large groups of subjects (Rodr’guez
The original Spanish version of this paper has been previously Sutil et al., 1996).
published in Cl’nica y Salud, 1997, Vol. 8 No 2, 347-356 A measure of Type A, as Powell (1987) points out,
...........
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to may be considered as valid if it demonstrates its rela-
Carlos Rodr’guez Sutil. Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluaci—n tionship to other validated measures of the TABP, and if
y Tratamientos (Psicolog’a Cl’nica). Facultad de Psicolog’a.
Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Campus de Somosaguas, it can be shown that it helps to predict the appearance of
28228 Madrid. Spain a coronary disorder. Nevertheless, it should be stressed
* All of the correlations in the table are significant to a level higher than p = .001
Correlations with the Framingham scale ** In brackets the number of subjects that completed both tests
4. Is your desire to reach the maximum professional and/or social levels ...?
❑ very high ❑ high ❑ normal ❑ low ❑ very low
7. Is your preoccupation with your work or the jobs you have to do ...?
❑ very high ❑ high ❑ normal ❑ low ❑ very low
APPENDIX 2
ERCTA-a INTERVIEW
Mark with an X the option that applies to you.
1. Do you feel pressurised by circumstances ...?
❑ not at all ❑ a little ❑ a normal amount ❑ quite a lot ❑ a lot
4. Is your desire to go as far as you can in your work or in your relationships with others ...?
❑ very high ❑ high ❑ normal ❑ low ❑ very low
7. Is your preoccupation with your work or the jobs you have to do ...?
❑ very high ❑ high ❑ normal ❑ low ❑ very low