Measures Of Temperament Research Articles

In Search of Temperament and Personality Predictors of Creativity: A Test of a Mediation Model

Temperament and personality traits constitute inherent and learned personal characteristics that are crucial for creative behaviors among high ability students. This study investigated the relationships of temperament dimensions and the Big Five personality traits to creativity among 406 honors college students. First, the associations of creativity with temperament and personality were investigated separately. Second, it was sought to document if the selected measures of personality and temperament are distinguishable despite their interdependence. Finally, a mediational role for personality traits in channeling the effect of temperament on creativity was hypothesized. In the mediation model, all four temperament dimensions (orienting sensitivity, effortful control, extraversion/surgency, negative affect) had direct or indirect relationships with creativity. Two personality traits (openness, neuroticism) were found to be significant mediators in these relationships. The findings were discussed in terms of their relevance to the high-ability college students and to the temperament, personality, and creativity literature in general.

Correlates of naptime behaviors in preschool aged children.

Purpose: Major changes in the timing, duration, and function of sleep occur during childhood. These changes include the transition from habitual napping to infrequent napping. This transition is likely to reflect, at least in part, neurocognitive development. This study sought to identify factors that discriminate between four groups of children with different teacher-reported responses to naptime in childcare: those who nap (nappers), sometimes nap (transitioners), do not nap (resters), and neither nap, nor lie still (problem nappers).Methods: Standardized observations of sleep and sleep behaviors, daytime behaviors across a number of domains, and direct neurocognitive assessment of 158 preschool aged children (aged 49–72 months; 54% male) attending childcare centers in Queensland (QLD), Australia, were adopted as part of a large longitudinal study of early childhood, the Effective Early Education Experiences (E4Kids) study. Discriminant function analysis was used to examine how age, parent education, nighttime sleep duration, cognitive functioning, behavior problems, and temperament differentiated the four groups.Results: Three discriminant functions were identified and defined as maturation (strong loadings of nighttime sleep duration, cognitive function, and age), socioeconomic status (parental education), and behavioral problems (externalizing behavior, temperament, and internalizing behavior). These functions accounted for 62.9%, 32.6%, and 4.5% of the between-groups variance, respectively. Children defined as nappers (n=44) had significantly shorter duration of nighttime sleep, were younger, and had lower cognitive functioning scores than did other groups. Problem nappers, (n=25) were more likely to have parents with lower levels of education than did transitioners (n=41). Standard behavior and temperament measures did not significantly differentiate the groups.Conclusion: The findings support an interaction between cognitive development, sleep behaviors, and the individual needs and circumstances of children. Further research in this area could make a strong contribution to theory and practice in early childhood education, and a strong contribution to understanding of children’s development.

Temperamental negative affect, emotion-specific regulation, and concurrent internalizing and externalizing pathology among children with ADHD.

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience high rates of temperamental negative affect and comorbid internalizing and externalizing pathology. The current study explored the role of emotion-specific regulation in accounting for the link between temperamental negative affect and psychopathology among children with ADHD. Forty parents of children ages 8-11 (N =29 males, N =11 females) completed measures of child temperament, emotion-specific dysregulation (i.e., anger dysregulation, sadness dysregulation), and psychopathology. Children completed a measure of emotion-specific dysregulation. Results revealed that anger dysregulation fully statistically accounted for the relationship between temperamental negative affect and concurrent externalizing problems. Sadness dysregulation did not account for the relationship between temperamental negative affect and internalizing problems. These novel findings implicate the robust role of anger dysregulation in explaining the link between temperamental negative affect and concurrent externalizing pathology. The results of this study have significant implications for the treatment of emotionally driven externalizing behavior among children with ADHD.

Temperament Similarities and Differences: A Comparison of Factor Structures from the Behavioral Style Questionnaire in Children with and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder

The majority of studies of temperament in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) use scales normed on typical populations. The present study examined a widely used measure of temperament, the Behavioral Style Questionnaire (McDevitt and Carey in Behavioral Styles Questionnaire, Behavioral-Developmental Initiatives Scottsdale, AZ, 1975) to determine whether it contains the temperament traits theorized by its creators. Neither confirmatory nor exploratory factor analysis, using a sample of children with ASD and a population comparison group, identified the theorized nine temperament factors; many items did not strongly load on any of the original factors. A 10 factor solution best described the ASD data and a 9 factor solution best described the typical group's data. There were substantial similarities in the 9 factor solutions, but groups differed from one another enough to question construct similarity for several factors. These results highlight that more basic psychometric research is needed to better understand the BSQ in children with ASD.

A comparative study of temperamental, behavioral, and cognitive changes in thalassemia major, thalassemia minor, and normal population.

Background:Temperament in children and adolescents acts as a trait marker which can predict behavioral abnormalities. There was no systemic study in India which has compared the temperamental, behavioral and cognitive changes associated with this hemoglobinopathy among thalassemia major (TM) group.Materials and Methods:The specific objectives of this study were to find the clinicodemographic profile of individuals and parents, the behavioral, temperamental profile of children of beta TM and correlation of temperamental profile with number of blood transfusions, cognitive profile of children having beta TM, minor and age-matched control children and adolescents.Results:Child and adolescents having TM have more temperamental and behavioral problems (P < 0.001) and have more psychopathology in comparison to Tm group. Descriptive statistics of the groups and group comparison (ANOVA) shows statistically significant difference in Temperament Measurement Schedule (TMS) total, CPMS total, TMT A, TMT B, and Children's Depression Rating Scale (CDRS) scales (P = 0.000). Descriptive statistics and group comparison (Chi-square test) show significance in number of blood transfusions not with other parameters (P < 0.001). Comparison between TM (Case) and Tm (Control) (t-test) shows significance with only TMS total and CPMS scales, not in other scales. The correlation matrix showed significant correlation in-between all the parameters (blood transfusion, TMS, CPMS, TMT A, TMT B, and CDRS).Discussion:Those who have been diagnosed as TM have more behavioral and cognitive problems than their comparators. Youngsters receiving more blood transfusions due to their ailments scored higher in childhood depression rating scale.Conclusion:The temperamental, behavioural and cognitive profile are key determinants of both internalizing and externalizing symptoms and management plan can be guided accordingly as reflected in this study.

Relation between temperament dimensions and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms.

Introduction:The relation between temperament and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is complex and understood in different ways, with the most common being risk model and spectrum model. However, the evidence is mixed and emerging.Aim:To assess the relationship between ADHD symptoms and temperament dimensions in a clinical sample of school-aged children.Methods:A retrospective assessment of temperament of 50 children with ADHD was done on temperament measurement schedule. The mean and standard deviation was computed for continuous variables and frequency and percentage for discontinuous variables and correlation and regression analysis was computed.Results:Children with ADHD were high on activity level, intensity of reaction, approach, and distractibility and low on persistence and threshold of responsiveness. The strength of significant correlations between temperamental dimensions and ADHD symptoms (P < 0.05) ranged from 0.32 to 0.41. On regression analysis, temperament could explain 22% variance of inattention subscale and around 20% variance in hyperactivity/impulsivity subscale.Conclusion:This moderate level of relation suggests that though certain temperamental traits are related to symptoms of ADHD, temperament and ADHD are phenotypically separate constructs, further favoring the risk model.

“Silence! The body is speaking” – a correlational study of personality, perfectionism, and self-compassion as risk and protective factors for psychosomatic symptoms distress

ABSTRACTThe current study examined the role of personality traits on psychosomatic distress (PD) and tested the hypothesis that the association between perfectionism and PD would be moderated by self-compassion. One hundred and seventy-three community volunteers, of whom 24.9% were men, mean age 31.52 ± 13.29, reported online on the DS14, a measure of Type D personality, on the TCI-140, a measure of temperament and character, on the Frost multidimensional perfectionism scale, on the short form of the self-compassion scale and on the SOMS-7 for psychosomatic symptoms. We defined psychosomatic distress as the product of the symptom count and severity rating score of the SOMS-7. The hierarchical linear regression model that included all the personality variables as well as the interaction term between self-compassion and perfectionism accounted for 25% of the variance in PD. The interaction between perfectionism and self-compassion entered into the model in the last block was highly protective. High self-compassion moderated the effect of perfectionism on PD. Our finding correspond with the notion that personality can enhance PD but can also mitigate it. Protective personality traits, such as self-compassion, might be good targets for psychological intervention.

Do Profiles of Adolescent Temperament Differ on Family Processes and Adult Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms?

In the present study, we examined whether profiles of temperamental features in adolescence (a) predict internalizing and externalizing symptoms in early adulthood, and (b) differ in family processes (i.e., cohesion, conflict) during early adolescence. Participants were 662 youth (72% male; 76% White). Mothers reported on family cohesion and conflict during participants’ early adolescence (ages 12–14, Time 1). Youth completed measures of temperament in middle adolescence (ages 16, Time 2), and of their symptoms in middle adolescence (Time 2), late adolescence (age 19, Time 3), and early adulthood (age 22, Time 4). Latent profile analysis identified three temperamental profiles: low positive mood, low rhythmicity, and well-regulated. Individuals in the low rhythmicity profile reported higher levels of externalizing symptoms compared to the well-regulated profile. No between-profile differences were found for internalizing symptoms. Mothers of youth in the low positive mood and low rhythmicity profiles reported higher levels of family conflict than the well-regulated profile. In addition, mothers of youth in the low positive mood profile reported lower levels of family cohesion than the well-regulated profile. Research implications of the study findings are presented.

Covert Attention, Temperament, and Looking: A Novel Approach to Studying Attention in the Social World.

The current study examines relations between individual differences in attention measured in laboratory and real-world settings. In-laboratory computer-based assessments of orienting, phasic alertness, and executive attention as well as self-report measures of temperament and attention-related problems were administered to 111 undergraduate participants. Participants later completed a walking tour of a multistory building while wearing video recording glasses. The recordings were subsequently coded for orientation and capture of overt attention. Overt attention was correlated with attention-related traits only in high-demand walking conditions (stairways). Our findings suggest that individual differences should be a more important consideration in attention research. The novel methodology piloted here may be especially practical for studying overt attention in social settings.

Do treatment outcomes differ after 3 months DBT inpatient treatment based on borderline personality disorder subtypes?

Heterogeneity in borderline personality disorder (BPD) drives the search for BPD subtypes to optimize the assessment and treatment of these patients. Therefore, the aims of the present study were (1) to replicate previously identified BPD subtypes based on reactive and regulative temperament; (2) to compare them on symptomatology and coping; and (3) to investigate whether these subtypes show different treatment responses after 3months of inpatient dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT). A total of 145 BPD inpatients were assessed by means of measures of temperament, symptomatology and coping. Through model-based clustering on the Behavioural Inhibition and Behavioural Activation Scales (BISBAS) and Effortful Control Scale (ECS), we identified three BPD subtypes: an Emotional/Disinhibited subtype (15%, high BAS and low ECS); a Low Anxiety subtype (41%, low BIS) and an Inhibited subtype (44%, low BAS). After 3months of DBT, 75 patients completed the measures for a second time. Repeated measure ANOVAs demonstrated a general improvement on all symptoms and coping strategies. In addition, the BPD subtypes showed trajectory differences in clinical and borderline specific symptomatology and dissociation. These findings indicate that BPD subtypes based on temperament demonstrate different treatment responses, which can contribute to the search of more BPD subtype tailored treatment interventions. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Roles of emotional reactivity, intolerance of uncertainty, and negative problem orientation on developing childhood worry

Although current literature has examined the associations between individual risk factors and the development of childhood worry, few studies have examined pathways including multiple vulnerability factors. The current study examined a specific pathway of risk towards childhood worry, examining the roles of intolerance of uncertainty and negative problem orientation on the association between emotionally reactive temperament and worry. Participants were 76 children and adolescents between ages 7 and 13 and their parents, from a community sample. Parents completed measures of child temperament, and youths completed measures of intolerance of uncertainty and negative problem orientation. Mediational analyses were conducted to examine the pathway between emotionally reactive temperament and worry. Overall, the data supported study hypotheses, and the association between emotionally reactive temperament and worry was serially mediated through intolerance of uncertainty and then negative problem orientation. These findings suggest high emotional reactivity may contribute to the development of intolerance of uncertainty, which may contribute to the development of negative problem orientation. Children with high negative problem orientation may then acquire an increased propensity to worry. Results showing a specific pathway of risk towards worry suggest a targeted approach for intervention and prevention is likely to be most efficacious.

Maternal report of infant negative affect predicts attenuated brain response to own infant.

Parent-infant interaction is known to be influenced bidirectionally by parent and infant characteristics. However, it is unclear whether infant temperament affects parents' neural responses to infant stimuli. 85 infants (6-12months) were filmed in distress-eliciting tasks, which were coded for infants' negative affect. Mothers' reported infant affect was obtained from the Infant Behavior Questionnaire Very Short Form-Revised. Mothers' EEG activity was recorded while passively viewing photos of own, familiarized, and unfamiliar infants. Multiple regression indicated that mothers who reported greater infant negative affect showed a smaller difference in the late positive potential (LPP) response to own infant versus familiarized infant, controlling for researcher-coded infant negative affect. The findings suggest that parents' perceptions of their infant's temperament, but not independent measures of infant temperament, are related to electrocortical indices of emotional attention.

Health-related quality of life, temperament, and eating behavior among formula-fed infants in the Philippines: a pilot study

BackgroundThe rising prevalence of childhood obesity in Asia has led to interest in potential risk factors such as infant health-related quality of life (HRQoL), temperament and eating behaviors. This pilot study evaluated the utility of administering parent-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to explore these factors in Filipino infants and examined the relationships between these factors and infant sex, formula intake and weight, over time.MethodsForty healthy, 4-week-old, formula-fed infants (n = 20 males) were enrolled in this 6-week, prospective, uncontrolled study during which infants were exclusively fed a standard term infant formula enriched with alpha-lactalbumin. On Day-1 and 42, anthropometrics were measured and mothers completed a 97-item measure of HRQoL [Infant Toddler Quality of Life Questionnaire (ITQOL)] covering 6 infant-focused and 3 parent-focused concepts and a 24-item measure of infant temperament [Infant Characteristics Questionnaire (ICQ)]. At Day-42, mothers also completed an 18-item measure of infant appetite [Baby Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (BEBQ)]. A 3-day formula intake diary was completed before Day-42. Nonparametric statistics were used to evaluate correlations among outcomes and compare outcomes by visit and sex.ResultsThirty-nine infants completed the study; similar results were observed in males and females. Completion of PROMs was 100% with no missing responses, but Cronbach’s α was low for many concept scales scores. ITQOL scores [range 0 (worst)-100 (best)] were generally high (median ≥ 80) except for Day-1 and Day-42 Temperament and Mood and Day-1 General Health Perceptions scores. ITQOL but not ICQ temperament scores improved significantly between Day-1 and Day-42 (P < 0.01). Mean ± standard deviation BEBQ scores (range 1–5) were high for Enjoyment of Food (4.59 ± 0.60) and Food Responsiveness (3.53 ± 0.81), and low for Satiety Responsiveness (2.50 ± 0.73) and Slowness in Eating (1.71 ± 0.60). Better HRQoL scores were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with high General Appetite scores (3 ITQOL concepts, r = 0.32 to 0.54), greater Enjoyment of Food (4 ITQOL concepts, r = 0.35 to 0.42) and low levels of Slowness in Eating (7 ITQOL concepts, r = − 0.32 to − 0.47).ConclusionFindings demonstrated the utility of the ITQOL, ICQ and BEBQ for measuring HRQoL, temperament and eating behavior, and the need for further adaptations for use in Filipino infants.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02431377; Registered May 1, 2015.

Assessing preschoolers interactive behaviour: A validation study of the "Coding System for Mother-Child Interaction".

The preschool years are a period of great developmental achievements, which impact critically on a child's interactive skills. Having valid and reliable measures to assess interactive behaviour at this stage is therefore crucial. The aim of this study was to describe the adaptation and validation of the child coding of the Coding System for Mother-Child Interactions and discuss its applications and implications in future research and practice. Two hundred twenty Portuguese preschoolers and their mothers were videotaped during a structured task. Child and mother interactive behaviours were coded based on the task. Maternal reports on the child's temperament and emotional and behaviour problems were also collected, along with family psychosocial information. Interrater agreement was confirmed. The use of child Cooperation, Enthusiasm, and Negativity as subscales was supported by their correlations across tasks. Moreover, these subscales were correlated with each other, which supports the use of a global child interactive behaviour score. Convergent validity with a measure of emotional and behavioural problems (Child Behaviour Checklist 1 ½-5) was established, as well as divergent validity with a measure of temperament (Children's Behaviour Questionnaire-Short Form). Regarding associations with family variables, child interactive behaviour was only associated with maternal behaviour. Findings suggest that this coding system is a valid and reliable measure for assessing child interactive behaviour in preschool age children. It therefore represents an important alternative to this area of research and practice, with reduced costs and with more flexible training requirements. Attention should be given in future research to expanding this work to clinical populations and different age groups.

Can Infant Temperament Be Used to Predict Which Toddlers Are Likely to Have Increased Emotional and Behavioral Problems?

ABSTRACTThe 'terrible twos' are often associated with increased temper tantrums, noncompliance and aggression. Although some expression of these behaviors is normal, whether early individual factors can predict which children are most at risk of frequent or prolonged emotional and behavioral problems is of increasing interest. The current study of 6,067 toddlers found that their 9 month scores on a new brief measure of temperament—the Infant Behavior Questionnaire – Revised - Very Short Form (IBQ-R-VSF)—were associated with both difficult behaviors and prosocial behaviors at age 2, measured using a preschool version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Controlling for a range of demographic, maternal characteristics and contextual factors, we found that infants higher on the trait Negative Emotionality and/ or lower on Orienting Capacity and Fear were more likely to develop hyperactivity, emotion, peer and conduct problems and less likely to demonstrate pro-social behaviors at two years of age. Temperament aged 9 months explained an additional 1 - 6 % of the variance in toddler behavior. These findings suggest that infant temperament is associated with the behavior strengths and difficulties of 2-year-olds and provide the first longitudinal validation of the new 5-factor structure of the new IBQ-R-VSF.

Temperamental workers: Psychology, business, and the Humm-Wadsworth Temperament Scale in interwar America.

This article traces the history of a popular interwar psychological test, the Humm-Wadsworth Temperament Scale (HWTS), from its development in the early 1930s to its adoption by corporate personnel departments. In popular articles, trade magazines, and academic journals, industrial psychologist Doncaster Humm and personnel manager Guy Wadsworth trumpeted their scale as a scientific measure of temperament that could ensure efficient hiring practices and harmonious labor relations by screening out "problem employees" and screening for temperamentally "normal" workers. This article demonstrates how concerns about the epistemological and scientific credibility of the HWTS were intimately entangled with concerns about its value to business at every step in the test's development. The HWTS sought to measure the emotional and social dimensions of an individual's personality so as to assess their suitability for work. The practice of temperament testing conjured a vision of the subject whose emotional and social disposition was foundational to their own capacity to find employment, and whose capacity to appropriately express, but regulate, their emotions was foundational to corporate order. The history of the HWTS offers an instructive case of how psychological tests embed social hierarchies, political claims, and economic ideals within their very theoretical and methodological foundations. Although the HWTS itself may have faded from use, the test directly inspired creators of subsequent popular personality tests, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. (PsycINFO Database Record

The role of parent and child self-regulation in children's glycemic control.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a lifelong, metabolic disorder, typically arising in childhood and adolescence. Despite recent advances in diabetes management techniques, glycemic control remains substandard for many individuals This study examined the role of parental and child self-regulation in predicting effective glycemic control in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Sixty-three families (with children aged 3-18 years) with T1DM participated. Child, maternal, and paternal measures of temperament, including surgency (behavioral self-regulation), negative affect (emotional selfregulation), and effortful control (cognitive self-regulation) were collected, along with demographic information and haemoglobin A1c (glycemic control). Higher parental and child effortful control was associated with better glycemic control. Higher child negative emotionality was associated with poorer glycemic control. No significant interactions between child and parent measures were identified. Both parental and child self-regulation play an independent role in glycemic control, and serve as targets for intervention in improving diabetes management in children and adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record

35 Effect of Temperament Measures on Feedlot Cattle Performance.

35 Effect of Temperament Measures on Feedlot Cattle Performance.

TEMPERAMENTAL ADAPTABILITY, PERSISTENCE, AND REGULARITY: PARENTAL RATINGS OF NORWEGIAN INFANTS AGED 6 TO 12 MONTHS, WITH SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR PREVENTIVE PRACTICE.

The temperament dimensions of persistence, adaptability, and regularity had acceptable or close-to-acceptable reliabilities in the U.S. study as well as in this study, and also were unifactorial in confirmatory factor analysis. These dimensions are the focus in this article. Findings concerning parents' differential ratings of their infants on the three dimensions are reported, as is the stability of parents' ratings of temperament from 6 to 12 months. In addition, results on the relation between temperament and parenting stress are presented. The study suggests that temperamental adaptability, persistence, and regularity may be relevant when assessing infant behavior, and may be applied in systematic prevention trials for families with infants. The inclusion of concepts related to individual differences in response tendencies and regulatory efforts may broaden the understanding of parent-infant transactions, and thus enrich prevention and sensitizing interventions with the aim of assisting infants' development.

Early-Childhood Conduct Problems Predict Economic and Political Discontent in Adulthood: Evidence From Two Large, Longitudinal UK Cohorts

Longstanding interest has been directed toward the etiology of sociopolitical attitudes. Personality traits have been posited as antecedents; however, most work addressing such links has been limited to cross-sectional study designs. The current study used data from two large (both Ns > 8,700), longitudinal cohorts of individuals from the United Kingdom who were parent-assessed on a measure of temperament (assessing anxiety, conduct problems, and hyperactivity) at age 5 or 7 years and on a range of sociopolitical attitudes at age 30 or 33 years. In both cohorts, higher levels of childhood conduct problems predicted higher levels of economic and political discontent in adulthood. These associations were still evident when controlling for sex, childhood intelligence, and parental social class. In both cohorts, this pathway was partially mediated by educational attainment and achieved social class. These findings are consistent with the perspective that early-life temperament gives rise to adult political sentiment.