A longitudinal study of temperament in infancy: stability and convergence of measures

The Infant Version of the Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery (Lab-TAB): Measurement Properties and Implications for Concepts of Temperament

“…In a previous report on scale development and validation of the Preschool Lab-TAB (Gagne et al, 2011 ), laboratory-based assessments of fear, shyness, activity level and inhibitory control showed low to moderate correlations with corresponding mother- reported temperament dimensions. We and others (e.g., Gartstein and Marmion, 2008 ; Braungart-Rieker et al, 2010 ) found moderate convergence between parent reported and laboratory observed infant fear and anger, but not positive affect (Gartstein and Marmion, 2008 ) or interest/persistence (Matheny and Wilson, 1981 ; Carranza Carnicero et al, 2000 ).…”

“…Further, few studies use laboratory measures of infant temperament when assessing continuity. In ours and others' research, infants' expressions of fear, anger, and positive affect as well as activity level increase from 6 to 12 months (Carranza Carnicero et al, 2000 ; Rothbart and Bates, 2006 ; Planalp et al, 2016 ); however, less is known about infant sadness and interest/persistence. We found rank order stability of temperament across time, reflected by longitudinal correlations within scale, episode, or dimension.…”

“…Infant interest/persistence is stable starting in the second year of life (Rothbart et al, 2000 ; Auerbach et al, 2004 ), but results regarding stability from the first year of life are mixed. Some studies find moderate relations in parent ratings of interest or orienting across ages 3 to 12 months (Matheny and Wilson, 1981 ) whereas others find no relation when assessment intervals are 6 months or greater (Carranza Carnicero et al, 2000 ). In addition, observed measures of interest tend to be uncorrelated until later in infancy (Carranza Carnicero et al, 2000 ).…”

Infant Temperament: Stability by Age, Gender, Birth Order, Term Status, and Socioeconomic Status

“…Factor analyses of the IBQ have yielded overarching factors related to Positive Affectivity and Negative Affectivity (Kochanska, Coy, Tjebkes, & Husarek, 1998;Rothbart, 1986) extracted for mothers' (and fathers') ratings of infants from 3 to 12 months. Smiling and laughter, duration of orienting, and soothability generally comprise the Positive Affectivity factor; distress to limitations and fear comprise the Negative Affectivity factor; and activity level loads on either or both factors depending on the sample being analyzed (Carranza Carnicero, P erez L opez, Salinas-Gonz alez, & Mart ınez-Fuentes, 2000;Kochanska et al, 1998). Much of contemporary research concerning infant temperament is based on Rothbart's theory and IBQ measures of the structure of infant temperament (Carranza Carnicero et al, 2000;Gartstein, Knyazev, & Slobodskaya, 2005;Gartstein & Rothbart, 2003;Kochanska et al, 1998;Putnam, Gartstein, & Rothbart, 2006;Putnam, Rothbart, & Gartstein, 2008;Rothbart, 2011).…”

“…She reported stability of the positivity factor across both 3-and 6-month intervals and stability of the negativity factor and overall reactivity across 3-month intervals. Later IBQ stability reports included Worobey and Blajda (1989) from 2 weeks to 2 months and from 2 months to 12 months ;Carranza Carnicero et al (2000) across the 1st year of life; and Putnam et al (2006) from 6 to 12 months and from 18 to 36 months (Putnam et al, 2008). Komsi et al (2006Komsi et al ( , 2008, in turn, examined the stability of temperament based on both mother-and father-rated infant and child temperament (assessed with the IBQ and CBQ, respectively); like Putnam et al (2008), they found evidence for stability of temperament from infancy to middle childhood.…”