title: How are traits related to problem behavior in preschoolers? Similarities and contrasts between temperament and personality.
abstract: The lack of empirical research relating temperament models and personality hinders conceptual integration and holds back research linking childhood traits to problem behavior or maladjustment. This study evaluates, within a sample of 443 preschoolers, the relationships between children's maladaptation and traits measured by three temperament models (Thomas and Chess, Buss and Plomin, and Rothbart), and a Five-Factor based personality model. Adequate reliabilities and expected factor structures are demonstrated for most scales. A joint principal component analysis combining 28 temperament and 18 personality scales indicates a six-factor model, distinguishing Sociability, Activity, Conscientiousness, Disagreeableness, Emotionality, and Sensitivity. Regression analyses reveal that although single temperament and personality scales explain from 23% to 37% of problem behavior variance, the six components explain from 41% to 49% and provide a clearer differentiation among CBCL-problem scales. This age-specific taxonomy refines and corroborates conclusions based on narrative reviews and furnishes a more balanced view of trait-maladjustment relationships.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Sarah.DePauw@UGent.be
authors.forename: Sarah S W
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: De Pauw
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mervielde
authors.forename: Karla G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Van Leeuwen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D013694:Temperament