STRUCTURE, DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGE, AND SEX DIFFERENCES IN TEMPERAMENT OF JAPANESE CHILDREN

In this study, we addressed three issues using parental report temperament question-naires: the structure and developmental change of temperament from three- to six-year-old children using the Children's Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ) scales, and sex differences using the Toddler Behavior Assessment Questionnaire (TBAQ) and the CBQ scales. The subjects were 483 Japanese children at eighteen months for the TBAQ and 372 3- to 6 year olds for the CBQ. Factor-analyzing the results from 15 CBQ scales, three factors (Surgency, Negative Affect, and Effortful Controil were obtained. The factor pattern we obtained showed considerable similarity to those for America and China samples reported previously by other researchers, a finding supporting the invariance of underlying structure of temperament across cultures. Comparing the factor-loading patterns of the three nations, Japanese children's temperament occupied a middle position. This suggests that the development of temperament might be influenced by children's experiences in socialization which varied according to culture. We found sex differences for the Activity Level, High Intensity Pleasure, Impulsivity, Inhibitory Control, Low Intensity Pleasure, Perceptual Sensitivity, and Shyness scales of the CBQ, but not for the TBAQ scales. Boys were rated higher on the scales related to the Surgency factor, and girls were higher on the scales related to the Effortful Control. As expected, Anger and Discomfort scale scores decreased, and Attention Focusing and Inhibitory Control scale scores increased with age