The relationship between preschoolers’ sensory regulation and temperament: implications for parents and early childhood caregivers

ABSTRACT

With a non-clinical sample of pre-schoolers, we used partial least squares regression to assess the extent to which children's seven sensory regulatory factors (X) account for variations in the three temperament factors (Y) and Y explains variations in X. The results suggested predicting temperament factors from sensory processing factors receive better outcomes. Finally, multiple regression analyses using the sensory processing measures to predict each of the three temperamental variables showed that (1) significant predictors of negative affectivity included difficulties in tactile sensitivity, taste/smell sensitivity, and low energy; (2) surgency was predicted by underresponsive/seeks sensation, auditory filtering, tactile sensitivity, and movement sensitivity; and (3) effortful control was predicted by low energy and auditory filtering. The hypothesis supported children's sensory processing preferences form the basis for the manifestation of temperament. Parents and educators need to notice environmental stimuli can cause challenges for children with sensory processing difficulties and manifesti difficult temperament.

KEYWORDS:

• Early childhood
• sensory regulation
• temperament
• partial least squares regression

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by MOST108-2410-H-241-002 from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Taiwan. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of MOST. The corresponding author takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. The ideas and analyses presented in this manuscript were not disseminated before publication. The authors thank all participating families for making this work possible. We are also grateful for the helpful comments provided by the reviewers.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by MOST108-2410-H-241-002 from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, R. O. C.

Notes on contributors

Ishien Li

Ishien Li received her Ph.D. in family and child ecology from Michigan State University. She has been on the faculty at Hungkuang University in Taiwan since 2008, when she was appointed a Professor of Child Development. Her research interests focus on child temperament and its relation to socio-emotional development.

Pao-Sheng Shen

Pao-Sheng Shen was born in Kaoshiung, Taiwan and obtained his Ph.D. from University of Kentucky, U.S. under Professor Paul Cornelius. Now, he is a Professor in Department of Statistics, Tunghai University, Taiwan. His research interests focus on nonparametric and semiparametric analysis of truncated/interval censored data.

Mei-Liang Wu

Mei-Liang Wu is a director at Changhua Christian Hospital Employee Benefit Committee Kindergarten for more than 20 years. She received her master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Siena Heights University. Her research interests include Montessori method of teaching, learning environments and quality childcare.

Wenchun Wang

WenChun Wang got her educational doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola University of Chicago. Her research interests are children's play in early childhood education, bilingual children's play and early language development, parental perceptions of children's play, and college students' perceptions of diversity.