Convergence among Assessments of Temperament in the First Month

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the potential convergence of 3 approaches to the description of temperament in the first month of life and to identify which aspects of early temperament are most meaningful to mothers. 48 newborns were tested with the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS). 2 weeks later, mothers responded to the Rothbart Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ). 2 weeks thereafter, mothers were interviewed in accordance with the Thomas, Chess, and Birch New York Longitudinal Study (NYLS) clinical guidelines while the NBAS was again administered to their infants. A number of significant and/or marginally significant correlations were established among the 3 instruments, suggesting that early measures of infant behavior may implicitly or explicitly reflect aspects of functioning associated with the construct of temperament. The findings argue for an increased emphasis on temperament research in the first postpartum months, for the development of more age-appropriate assessments, for the simultaneous use of multiple measures in such research, and for the continued inclusion of mothers as credible observers of infant behavior.