title: The structural and rank-order stability of temperament in young children based on a laboratory-observational measure.
abstract: It is generally assumed that temperament traits exhibit structural and rank-order stability over time. Most of the research on structural and rank-order stability has relied on parent-report measures. The present study used an alternative approach, a laboratory-observational measure (Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery [Lab-TAB]), to examine the structural and rank-order stability of temperament traits in a community sample of young children (N = 447). Using structural equation modeling (SEM), we found that a similar 5-factor structure consisting of the dimensions of positive affect (PA)/interest, sociability, dysphoria, fear/inhibition, and impulsivity versus constraint provided an adequate fit to the data at both age 3 and 6 years, suggesting good structural stability. Moreover, all 5 latent factors exhibited significant, albeit modest, rank-order stability from age 3 to 6. In addition, there were significant heterotypic associations of age-3 sociability with age-6 PA/interest, and age-3 impulsivity versus constraint with age-6 fear/inhibition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California-San Diego.
authors.forename: Margaret W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Dyson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Olino
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: C Emily
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Durbin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: H Hill
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Sara J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bufferd
authors.affiliation: Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland.
authors.forename: Anna R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Daniel N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013694:Temperament / Q000502:physiology*