Search results
(1 - 3 of 3)
- Title
- INITIAL VALIDATION OF AN OBSERVATIONAL MEASURE OF TEMPERAMENT IN PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN
- Creator
- Plumb, Nora
- Date
- 2018, 2018-05
- Description
-
Literature has shown that temperament predicts a range of childhood outcomes, including social competence, academic performance, and empathic...
Show moreLiterature has shown that temperament predicts a range of childhood outcomes, including social competence, academic performance, and empathic responsiveness. Temperament also has been consistently shown to be a risk factor for psychopathology (e.g., externalizing disorders, conduct problems, anxiety, and depression). Although there is general agreement on the definition of temperament, there are still aspects of this construct that are disputed (e.g., the specific traits involved and the degree to which they are stable across development). Moreover, researchers also have developed different strategies to assess this construct, specifically parent-report and direct observation, both of which have their limitations. Despite these limitations, very few measures temperament measures utilize ecologically valid observations in naturalistic settings. The purpose of this study was threefold. The first aim was to examine the construct validity of a newly-developed behavioral observation measure of temperament through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The second aim was to determine if the measure was invariant across age and gender. Finally, the third aim was to assess the measures’ convergent and predictive validity. This measure was administered to 796 children across three ages (i.e.,ages 4, 5, and 6). Results from the CFAs revealed that a four-factor structure was the best fit to the data at age 4, therefore supporting configural invariance across gender for that age group. Invariance testing also showed that the measure demonstrated metric, but not scalar, invariance across gender at age 4. Finally, this study found evidence for both convergent and predictive validity for this measure. Directions for future research are also discussed.
M.S. in Psychology, May 2018
Show less
- Title
- Child Temperament, Attachment, and Loneliness: The Mediating Effects of Social Competence
- Creator
- Evans, Lindsey M
- Date
- 2021
- Description
-
Chronic loneliness is a risk factor associated with adverse psychological, physical, and academic outcomes. Converging evidence suggests that...
Show moreChronic loneliness is a risk factor associated with adverse psychological, physical, and academic outcomes. Converging evidence suggests that young children experience and can reliably report on their own loneliness. Due to the significant negative sequalae associated with childhood loneliness, it is critically important to examine risk factors for child loneliness. The aims of this study were two-fold: (a) to examine if temperament (i.e., negative affect, effortful control, and inhibitory control) and attachment security assessed at 4 years of age predict loneliness at age 6; and (b) to determine if social competence at age 5 mediates the relation between temperament and attachment security at age 4 and loneliness at age 6. Participants included a diverse sample of 796 4-year old children, about half of whom were male. At age 4, temperament was assessed with the Rothbart Child Behavior Questionnaire and three inhibitory control tasks, and attachment security was assessed with the Attachment Q-Sort. At age 5, the Social Skills Rating Scale was used to assess social competence, and, at age 6, loneliness was assessed with the Loneliness and Social Dissatisfaction Questionnaire. Results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that lower levels of effortful control and inhibitory control at age 4 significantly predicted higher levels of loneliness at age 6. Also, lower levels of negative affect and higher levels of effortful control and attachment security at age 4 significantly predicted higher levels of social competence at age 5. However, social competence at age 5 did not predict loneliness at age 6. There was no evidence that social competence at age 5 mediated the relation between age 4 temperament, attachment security and age 6 loneliness. These findings reveal that early self-regulation is associated with later child-reported loneliness and that intervention for children who struggle with cognitive regulation may be effective in decreasing risk for later loneliness.
Show less
- Title
- Child Temperament, Attachment, and Loneliness: The Mediating Effects of Social Competence
- Creator
- Evans, Lindsey M
- Date
- 2021
- Description
-
Chronic loneliness is a risk factor associated with adverse psychological, physical, and academic outcomes. Converging evidence suggests that...
Show moreChronic loneliness is a risk factor associated with adverse psychological, physical, and academic outcomes. Converging evidence suggests that young children experience and can reliably report on their own loneliness. Due to the significant negative sequalae associated with childhood loneliness, it is critically important to examine risk factors for child loneliness. The aims of this study were two-fold: (a) to examine if temperament (i.e., negative affect, effortful control, and inhibitory control) and attachment security assessed at 4 years of age predict loneliness at age 6; and (b) to determine if social competence at age 5 mediates the relation between temperament and attachment security at age 4 and loneliness at age 6. Participants included a diverse sample of 796 4-year old children, about half of whom were male. At age 4, temperament was assessed with the Rothbart Child Behavior Questionnaire and three inhibitory control tasks, and attachment security was assessed with the Attachment Q-Sort. At age 5, the Social Skills Rating Scale was used to assess social competence, and, at age 6, loneliness was assessed with the Loneliness and Social Dissatisfaction Questionnaire. Results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that lower levels of effortful control and inhibitory control at age 4 significantly predicted higher levels of loneliness at age 6. Also, lower levels of negative affect and higher levels of effortful control and attachment security at age 4 significantly predicted higher levels of social competence at age 5. However, social competence at age 5 did not predict loneliness at age 6. There was no evidence that social competence at age 5 mediated the relation between age 4 temperament, attachment security and age 6 loneliness. These findings reveal that early self-regulation is associated with later child-reported loneliness and that intervention for children who struggle with cognitive regulation may be effective in decreasing risk for later loneliness.
Show less