On the Continuity, Change and Clinical Value of Infant Temperament in a Prospective Epidemiological Study

The clinical usefulness of infant temperament questionnaires in prospective epidemiological studies was supported by the observation that children with later paediatric problems had had significantly different temperamental styles at the infant age from those without problems.

Abstract

The temperament of 1855 children born in Helsinki during 1975-76 was recorded at the age of 6-8 months by parental questionnaires. In 1980-81 the continuity of temperamental dimensions was studied in a group of these children by using a temperament questionnaire for 3--7-year-old children. In addition, the clinical usefulness of infant temperament was assessed by analysing the infant temperamental dimensions used was almost negligible, because less than 10% of the total variance of each dimension could be explained by the corresponding dimensions at the infant age. The clinical usefulness of infant temperament questionnaires in prospective epidemiological studies was supported by the observation that children with later paediatric problems (behavioural problems, colic spasms, accidents) had had significantly different temperamental styles at the infant age from those without problems. The results support the importance of negative mood and high intensity of infant's behavioural style as risk factors for later paediatric problems.