Abstract
ObjectiveEarly temperamental characteristics may influence children’s developmental pathways and predict future psychopathology. However, the environmental context may also shape or interact with infant temperament and indirectly contribute to increased vulnerability to adverse developmental outcomes. The aim of the present study is to explore the long-term contribution of temperamental traits at twelve months of age to the presence of emotional and behavioral problems later in childhood, and whether this association varies with the child’s sex, parental separation, family socioeconomic status and maternal depression.Method1184 mother-child pairs from the EDEN mother-child birth cohort study based in France (2003–2011), were followed from 24–28 weeks of pregnancy to the child’s fifth birthday. Infant temperament at 12 months was assessed with the Emotionality Activity and Sociability (EAS) questionnaire and behavior at 5.5 years was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).ResultsEmotional temperament in infancy predicts children’s overall behavioral scores (β = 1.16, p<0.001), emotional difficulties (β = 0.30, p<0.001), conduct problems (β = 0.51, p<0.001) and symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention (β = 0.31, p = 0.01) at 5.5 years. Infants’ active temperament predicts later conduct problems (β = 0.30, p = 0.02), while shyness predicts later emotional problems (β = 0.22, p = 0.04). The association between the child’s temperament in infancy and later behavior did not vary with children’s own or family characteristics.ConclusionAn emotional temperament in infancy is associated with higher levels of emotional and behavioral difficulties at the age of 5.5 years. Children who show high emotionality early on may require early prevention and intervention efforts to divert possible adverse developmental pathways.
Highlights
Temperament involves constitutionally based individual differences in reactivity and self-regulation, in the domains of affect, activity and attention [1, 2]
An emotional temperament in infancy is associated with higher levels of emotional and behavioral difficulties at the age of 5.5 years
Using data from the EDEN mother-child cohort study, we previously reported that infants growing up with depressed mothers are more likely to have an emotional temperament characterized by high levels of negative reactivity, if their family experiences socioeconomic difficulties [36]
Summary
Temperament involves constitutionally based individual differences in reactivity and self-regulation, in the domains of affect, activity and attention [1, 2]. Several studies have identified that certain temperamental dimensions in infancy appear to predispose a child to develop specific forms of behavioral and emotional problems [12,13,14]. Negative emotional reactivity appears to be a non-specific risk factor for both internalizing and externalizing problems [5, 15]. High activity and lack of self-regulation predict externalizing problems [1, 18] and have been found to be related to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [19]. High sociability may function as a protective factor for behavior problem development, allowing a child to derive support from other sources in stressful situations [20]
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