Browsing by Subject "pysyvyys"

Objectives: Stability over time is a core assumption concerning the definition of temperament or the constellation of biologically based tendencies to behave and experience the world. The stability can be considered either homotypic, when the phenotype of the trait remains the same at different ages, or heterotypic, when the phenotype of the trait changes as the child grows. Several studies have demonstrated both homo- and heterotypic stability of child temperament at least from infancy to middle childhood. However, there are only few studies that have monitored the development of temperament until adolescence. In addition, most studies have relied exclusively on maternal reports although fathers make important contributions to their children’s lives and can be considered comparable informants of their children’s behavior. This study addressed the stability of child temperament on the level of both higher order temperament dimensions and individual temperament traits from infancy to middle childhood and further to early adolescence. Additionally, the study examined whether there are any differences between maternal and paternal ratings of child temperament stability. Methods: The sample of this study was obtained from the 0.5-, 8- and 12-year cohorts of the Glaku- research project which initiated in 1998. The final sample consisted of those mothers (n = 128) and fathers (n = 48) who had rated their child’s temperament at all the three timepoints. Parental ratings of child temperament were derived using the age appropriate questionnaires within the theoretical framework of Rothbart: the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) in infancy, the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ) in middle childhood and the Early Adolescence Temperament Questionnaire-Revised (EATQ-R) in early adolescence. Results and conclusions: On the level of temperament dimensions homotypic stability was found from infancy to middle childhood and from middle childhood to early adolescence. No direct association was found between temperament in infancy and temperament in early adolescence. Heterotypic continuity was found for negative emotionality and effortful control from middle childhood to early adolescence. Negative emotionality in middle childhood was associated with lower levels of positive emotionality and effortful control in early adolescence. Effortful control in middle childhood was associated with higher level of positive emotionality and lower level of negative emotionality in early adolescence. On the level of individual temperament traits homotypic stability was found from infancy to middle childhood and from middle childhood to early adolescence according to maternal ratings. According to paternal ratings homotypic stability was found only for one trait from infancy to middle childhood. From middle childhood to early adolescence, however, father rated homotypic associations were comparable to those found for maternal ratings. The results of this study support prior research and theoretical expectation of the stability of child temperament and the comparability of mother and father ratings. The results, however, suggest that maternal and paternal ratings about the stability of child temperament may be more alike regarding to older children, which should be further examined in future research.