THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFANT TEMPERAMENT AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH MATERNAL TEMPERAMENT

The present study explored the longitudinal relationship between infant temperament and maternal characteristics including depression and temperament, as well as the developmental change and stability of infant temperament. Assessments by questionnaires were conducted at 3 (N = 55), 10 (N = 51), and 16 (N = 52) months for infant temperament; at 1 month before and after delivery for maternal temperament; and at 1 month after delivery for maternal depression. Maternal temperamental characteristics significantly predicted infant temperament, but depression did not. Maternal Negative Affectivity predicted infant Negative Affectivity at 3 months, and maternal Orienting Sensitivity predicted infant Regulatory Capacity/Orienting at 10 months. Infant Positive Affectivity/Surgency significantly predicted infant later Regulatory Capacity/Orienting. Infant temperament showed developmental stability as individual differences as well as developmental changes as a group. The results are discussed with respect to genetic and environmental influences on infant temperament.