title: Behavioral approach-inhibition in toddlers: prediction from infancy, positive and negative affective components, and relations with behavior problems.
abstract: In this study, 126 children were observed at 6 months, 12 months, and 2 years. During infancy, latencies to reach for novel objects were measured. At 2 years, positive and negative affect, and behavioral approach-inhibition to low- and high-intensity situations were coded, and mothers assessed behavior problems. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a 3-dimension model of positivity, negativity, and behavioral approach-inhibition. Positivity was related to low- and high-intensity behavioral approach-inhibition, whereas negativity was linked only to low-intensity behavioral approach-inhibition. Shorter 12-month latencies to reach were predictive of low negativity, high positivity, and behavioral approach at 2 years. Positivity and negativity were correlated with externalizing and internalizing behaviors, respectively. Finally, cluster analysis identified an exuberant group high in externalizing and an inhibited group high in internalizing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME 04011-8469, USA. sputnam@bowdoin.edu
authors.forename: Samuel P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Putnam
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stifter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors