Citation

Plunkett JW, Cross DR, Meisels SJ. Early Child Res. Q. 1989; 4(3): 317-330.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0885-2006(89)90017-3

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study investigated temperament ratings among three groups of preterm infants, differing by degree of risk status, and a full-term group. Pairs of mothers and fathers completed the Rothbart Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) when their infants were 12 or 18 months of age. Findings concerning the internal consistencies across the three preterm (PT) groups demonstrated that both PT mothers and fathers found the IBQ temperament dimensions to be coherent constructs, regardless of initial severity and chronicity of their infants' illness. Preterm mothers and fathers showed some differences in their ratings: Median correlation of their scales was .46; and PT mothers rated their infants as more active (p < .002) and soothable (p < .06) than did PT fathers. Although there was only one significant difference between PT and FT mothers' ratings, within-group differences among the preterms emerged. The absence of stronger patterns of differences between PT and FT groups and between high-risk and low-risk preterm groups is discussed.