Citation

Kennedy CM. Pediatr. Nurs. 1996; 22(6): 553-7, 567.

Affiliation

Department of Family Health Care Nursing, at the University of California in San Francisco, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners, Publisher Jannetti Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9087095

Abstract

PURPOSE: To explore the processes by which early emotional experiences affect behavior and to investigate the use of basic development characteristics to guide primary care. METHOD: A randomized cohort of 74 children from a wide range of socio-economic classes were followed from infancy until 54 months of age. Children were assessed at 2 days, 12, 18 and 54 months by laboratory tests and maternal report. RESULTS: The personality characteristic of inhibition/shyness appeared to be an enduring trait from infancy through the preschool years. However, findings did not support the view that early personality variables (e.g., avidity, shyness, security) alone predict risk taking during later years. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses offering safety counseling about risk taking in order to minimize injuries during early childhood should consider personality concepts to be multi-dimensional. Infant and toddler profiles should not be considered solely predictive of later behavior.

Language: en