Measurement of Child Temperament: Implications for Researchers, Clinicians and Caregivers

Abstract

Child temperament has been of interest to researchers clinicians, and caregivers for many years The New York Longitudinal Study identified nine dimensions of child temperament, several additional investigations have contributed to the development of this important construct These studies and the subsequent development of temperament instruments have stimulated debate, research, and opposing theories Currently, there is not a single definition of temperament and there are many psychometric problems with the available temperament instruments However, temperament in children will continue to raise interesting questions for parents, researchers, clinicians, and caregivers.