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Although health is a key element in one's experience of middle adulthood as a time of productivity and personal fulfillment, research on psychosocial factors predictive of mid-life health is sparse, especially for women. Psychosocial variables are not only highly salient to health, but also are potentially modifiable by women themselves. This study employed a multivariate, multitheoretical approach to the study of health, examining a variety of psychosocial predictors (locus of control/mastery, psychological well-being, role quality, social network ties, optimism, and demographic variables) in a secondary analysis of data collected by Baruch and Barnett on 238 women. Subjects were divided into four groups: never married (N=50), married without children (N=54), married with children (N=88), and divorced with children (N=46) and were interviewed in their homes (Brookline, Massachusetts), 1978-79. It was found that 27% of the variance in self-reported health of mothers (whether married or divorced) was accounted for by stress, optimism, employment outside the home, occupational prestige, and quality of experience in the maternal role. Twenty-two percent of the variance in health of married women was explained by stress, quality of experience in the wife role, employment, and occupational prestige. A comparison of the healthiest and the least healthy women revealed that women in better health in middle adulthood had fewer concerns regarding their work, marital roles, and child-rearing roles as compared to their less healthy counterparts. Contains approximately 120 references. (NB)

Relationships among perceived stress, trait anger (general propensity to become angry), modes of anger expression, and health status were examined in a sample of 720 college students, using Caplan's conceptualization of stress as the study's framework. Propensity toward anger was assessed by the 10-item form of the Trait Anger Scale (Spielberger et al.), modes of anger expression were assessed by the Framingham Anger Scales, perceived stress was operationalized by the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, Kamarck, and Mermelstein), and current health status was assessed by Ware's 9-item Current Health Scale. As hypothesized, stress was a positive correlate of trait anger and all four modes of anger expression. To clarify the relative contributions of anger and stress to the variance in current health status, stepwise regression analyses were used. Trait anger, anger-in and anger-out failed to meet inclusion criteria. The final model explained 14% of the variance in health status with three variables: perceived stress, anger-discuss, and anger symptoms. Thus, trait anger was not as important to health as were the modes chosen to express anger after its arousal by stressful events. Discussion of anger appeared to be a health-promoting expression mode, while expressing anger through somatic symptoms was inversely related to health. (Author/NB)

The most common approach to self-management research has been to apply it to a specific target behavior, without attending to the generalizability of changes to other facets of one's life. A procedure for measuring self-management effectiveness under real world conditions was developed which emphasized the successful application of self-change procedures. The Self-Description Form (SDF) was field-tested on a sample of four groups of college students (N=214). Results indicated that normative self-management scores increased as level of education increased. Females had higher self-management scores than males except on the leisure scale. The reliability of the self-description scale was confirmed although validity efforts are still in the preliminary stages of analysis. When fully developed, the form may be useful in evaluating counseling and educational programs and in predicting an individual's future effectiveness in leisure, health, social and work activities. Several tables and figures are provided to illustrate SDF reliability and validity. (JAC)

There is increasing acceptance of the premise that growth and development continue throughout adult life and, as life expectancy has lengthened, there is a much expanded mid-life period. Yet, middle adulthood has been neglected as an area of theoretical and empirical examination. Adults (N=251) in middle adulthood (age 35-55) completed instruments measuring current health status, health locus of control, health value, health habits, self-management effectiveness, stressful life events, social support, genetic predisposition, gender, level of education, and income. The results indicated that internal locus of control was positively related to total self-management, health self-management, and health habits, while chance locus and powerful others locus were negatively related to these behavioral variables. The strongest predictors positively related to health were internal locus of control and health habits. The strongest predictors inversely related to health were powerful others locus, genetic predisposition, and less-than-high school education. Although some factors not readily modifiable for middle-aged adults were found to contribute to health status, modifiable attitudinal and behavioral varibles were also found to be important: even in cases with high genetic predisposition to disease, good health habits appeared to make a significant difference. (NRB)

This study examined psychological, behavioral, environmental, and sociodemographic predictors of health status in 87 mid-life women participating in a longitudinal investigation. Correlates of good health were found to be an optimistic disposition, internal locus of control, education, income, employment outside the home, moderate exercise, and adequate sleep. Variables negatively related to health were stress, external locus of control, packyears of smoking, post-menopausal status, body mass index, and anger symptomatology. Age and social support variables were not related to health status, nor were the anger-in, anger-out, and anger-discuss modes of expressing anger. The regression model accounted for 56% of the variance in health status. The majority of subjects reported severe daily hassles. High stress and anger somatization were significantly correlated. The findings suggest that a segment of women in mid-life enjoy less than optimal health while experiencing high levels of stress and expressing anger in ways which not only fail to accomplish problem resolution, but which also may alienate significant others. These results have implications for counseling and for future research. References and tables are included. (Author/NB)

Little is known about the Type B behavior pattern which is allegedly antithetical to the coronary-prone Type A pattern. The purpose of this study was to develop a descriptive profile of individuals in middle adulthood who exhibit the Type B pattern. Cognitive/attitudinal characteristics, stress reactivity, and health status were examined in 98 adults. The results indicated that Type Bs had better general health than Type As, fewer days ill during the past year, fewer physician visits, fewer hospitalizations, fewer surgical procedures, and fewer prescription medications. Type Bs were more likely than Type As to hold internal locus of control beliefs, to view life as a joy, and to understand themselves and their needs. In addition, Type Bs had greater certainty about the meaning of their lives than did Type As. Compared to Type As, Type Bs reported significantly less stress due to daily hassles, less pressure about having "too many things to do," and less job dissatisfaction. Just as health is more than the absence of disease, Type B is more than the absence of Type A characteristics. Parallels with Kobasa's (1979) hardiness concept and Antonovsky's (1984) sense of coherence are evident. Further investigation of Type B cognitions and attitudes, addressing mechanisms of acquisition and conditions facilitative of maintenance, is warranted. (Author/NB)

Dual career families were exceptions to the norm in the 1960's but have steadily increased in prevalence. Dual career professional couples (N=34) were studied to assess the determinants of marital quality and stability in their relationships. Results revealed that couples in high quality marriages reported satisfaction with all aspects of relationship intimacy, had congruent perceptions that the husband's career was pre-eminent and that the wife's career course was more erratic, and had husbands who were supportive of the wife's career. Egalitarian role sharing, similar careers, and older children were also characteristic. Couples in low quality marriages reported dissatisfaction with relationship intimacy, especially emotional intimacy; this was true most acutely for wives. Children were younger and there was more stress due to childcare, household tasks, and husbands' lack of support for the wives' careers. The findings suggest that a crucial factor for marital quality is spousal consensus on the philosophical/value issues which underlie more overt conflicts about childcare or household management tasks. (JAC)