Coronary-Prone Behavior, Locus of Control, and Anxiety

Abstract

216 college students were administered the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, the Bortner Type A/B Scale for coronary-prone behavior, and the Rotter internal-external Locus of Control Inventory. The results indicated that the mean anxiety score for the Type A-external group was significantly higher than those of the other three groups. This finding supports the bio-behavioral theory that high-risk coronary-prone individuals are more likely to possess a Type A, high external control, and high anxiety score profile. A mathematical analysis of responses to the items on the Bonner scale produced three interpretable factors, aggression, speed, and impatience, all of which have some clinical validity in other studies.