Premium
The Development of Early Profiles of Temperament: Characterization, Continuity, and Etiology
Author(s) -
Beekman Charles,
Neiderhiser Jenae M.,
Buss Kristin A.,
Loken Eric,
Moore Ginger A.,
Leve Leslie D.,
Ganiban Jody M.,
Shaw Daniel S.,
Reiss David
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.12417
Subject(s) - temperament , psychology , etiology , developmental psychology , personality , social psychology , psychiatry
This study used a data‐driven, person‐centered approach to examine the characterization, continuity, and etiology of child temperament from infancy to toddlerhood. Data from 561 families who participated in an ongoing prospective adoption study, the Early Growth and Development Study, were used to estimate latent profiles of temperament at 9, 18, and 27 months. Results indicated that four profiles of temperament best fit the data at all three points of assessment. The characterization of profiles was stable over time, while membership in profiles changed across age. Facets of adoptive parent and birth mother personality were predictive of children's profile membership at each age, providing preliminary evidence for specific environmental and genetic influences on patterns of temperament development from infancy to toddlerhood.