Coronary-prone behavior is most prevalent in middle-age males. The incidence of coronary-prone behavior has been attributed to employment patterns in which male sex-role characteristics of achievement are encouraged. A relationship between coronary-prone behavior and sex-role orientation is thus implied. The present study was undertaken to determine the nature of the relationship. Multiple-regression analyses showed the greatest proportion of coronary-prone behavior is accounted for by masculine sex-role characteristics. The results support the hypothesis that coronary-prone behavior is a male sex-role characteristic. The common influences of sex-role socialization practices upon masculine and feminine characteristics and upon coronary-prone behavior are discussed.
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