Abstract
To determine the usefulness of a temperament perspective in the study of young infants, the mothers of 36 newborns completed the Rothbart (1978) Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) approximately at 2 weeks and at 2 months after their infants were born and, again, when their infants reached 1 year of age. Moreover, both mothers and infants were observed at home in interaction at 1 month. IBQ activity level, responsivity, and irritability exhibited stability from 2 weeks to 2 months and from 2 months to 12 months. However, only irritability was stable from 2 weeks to 12 months. Although stability of their rank ordering was apparent, IBQ ratings generally increased by the end of 1 year. Observed infant alertness and crying at 1 month were significantly related to IBQ irritability at the first two times of measurement. In contrast, maternal behaviors were associated with later IBQ estimates.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 257-263 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Developmental psychology |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1989 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Demography
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Life-span and Life-course Studies