Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Infant temperament, childhood accidents, and hospitalization

G Nyman

    Clinical Pediatrics
    |August 1, 1987
    PubMed

    Insights

    Infant temperament influences hospitalization and accident risks. Difficult temperaments are linked to higher hospitalization rates, with specific traits like persistence and activity noted in accident-prone children.

    Area of Science:

    • Child Psychology
    • Developmental Pediatrics
    • Public Health

    Background:

    • Infant temperament is a key factor in child development and behavior.
    • Understanding temperament's role in health outcomes can inform preventative strategies.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the predictive role of infant temperament in hospitalization and accident incidence.
    • To analyze temperament profiles of children hospitalized for accidents versus other illnesses.

    Main Methods:

    • Prospective follow-up study involving 1,855 infants (6-8 months old).
    • Temperament assessed at infancy, with data collected on subsequent hospitalizations for 270 children.
    • Detailed temperament analysis for 35 children hospitalized due to accidents.

    Main Results:

    • A disproportionate number of hospitalized children, including those with accidents, exhibited 'difficult' temperaments.
    • Hospitalized children generally displayed more negative moods and higher response intensity.
    • Children with accidents showed higher persistence, activity levels, and negative reactions to novelty compared to other hospitalized groups.

    Conclusions:

    • Infant temperament is significantly associated with hospitalization and accident risks.
    • Results do not support a simple 'accident-prone' temperament but highlight temperament's complex role.
    • Temperament characteristics are important considerations in understanding and preventing childhood hospitalizations and accidents.

    More Related Videos

    Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm06:35

    Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm

    Published on: April 28, 2016

    Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study07:30

    Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

    Published on: August 18, 2020

    Related Concept Videos

    Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

    Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

    Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
    Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

    Socioemotional Development during Infancy

    Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
    Primary Temperament Types
    Stella Chess...
    Attachment01:20

    Attachment

    Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that physical...
    Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

    Relationship with Parents: Attachment

    Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
    Development of Human Microbiota01:30

    Development of Human Microbiota

    The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
    Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

    Development of the Oral Microbiota

    The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...