Cross-cultural studies of temperament: temperament in greek infants

Three infant cohorts from Greek cultural backgrounds were compared with an Anglo-Australian infant cohort across 9 dimensions of temperament using Australian and Greek versions of the revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire (Cazey and McDevitt 1978). Infants from a Greek cultural background were generally considered to be more 'difficult' than the Anglo-Australian infants on the temperament dimensions of Approach, Adaptability, Mood and Distractibility even after the effects of social class were controlled statistically. The reported cross-cultural differences were discussed with regard to the potential influence on temperament ratings of ethnicity and culture, social status, psychobiological factors, migrant status, social assimilation, and questionnaire characteristics.