Do Type A men drink more frequently than Type B men? Findings in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT)

The association between the Type A behavior pattern and self-reported alcohol intake was studied among men at high risk for coronary disease in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. Two assessments of behavior pattern, the Structured Behavior Pattern Interview (SBPI) and the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS), and two measures of alcohol intake were examined. Type A's consumed more alcohol (up to 30% more) than Type B's. Type A's drank more frequently than Type B's rather than more alcohol per occasion. This association was consistent for both SBPI and JAS assessments of behavior pattern and was independent of age, income, smoking, and marital status. Increased drinking frequency appears to be a concomitant of the Type A behavior pattern.