Gender Differences in Young Children's Temperament Traits: Comparisons Across Observational and Parent‐Report Methods

• DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12000
• Publication Date: 2012-08-28T08:29:29Z
• Authors: Thomas M. Olino; C. Emily Durbin; Daniel N. Klein; Elizabeth P. Hayden; Margaret W. Dyson
• Keywords: Sadness; Affect

Abstract Evidence supporting the continuity between child temperament and adult personality traits is accumulating. One important indicator of presence reliable gender differences in across lifespan. A substantial literature demonstrates on certain recent meta‐analytic work samples suggests similar for some broad narrow domains temperament. However, most existing studies children rely only parent‐report measures. The present study investigated assessed by laboratory observation, maternal‐report, paternal‐report Across three independent samples, behavioral observations, measures were collected 463 boys 402 girls. all methods, girls demonstrated higher positive affect fear lower activity level than boys. For measures, levels sociability overall negative emotionality ( NE ), sadness, anger impulsivity sadness when measured maternal reports. Finally, based paternal Results are discussed relation to past developmental implications findings.