THE TYPE-A COMPETITIVE RUNNER - AT RISK FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AND INJURY

This study examined whether Type A competitive runners were at increas ed risk for psychological stress and athletic injury. Thirty seven com petitive runners completed a Type A inventory, a psychological stress questionnaire, and a questionnaire assessing training habits and runni ng-related injury. Results showed that both the Type A and Type B runn ers reported intense, hard-driving, and competitive trainig habits. In terms of psychological stress, both groups reported experiencing a mo derate level of daily stress. Even though both the Type A and Type B r unners reported experiencing apt average of one injury over the past y ear the Type B runners reported missing an average of one week more of training due to injury over the past year than the Type A runners. Re search needs to continue to examine the role of the Type A behavior pa ttern as a moderator of the life stress-injury relationship.