Convergence between temperament ratings in early infancy

This study assesses the degree of convergence between two temperament questionnaires promoted for use with relatively young infants. The mothers of 90 normal, healthy infants were asked to complete the infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) and the Early Infancy Temperament Questionnaire (EITQ) when their babies were approximately 3 months of age; the returned questionnaires were reduced into the dimensions defined by the instruments' authors. The EITQ includes a General Impressions rating scale that provides a more global estimate of the same temperament dimensions, and these scores were also examined. Infant ratings on both questionnaires were similar in magnitude to results of other published reports. Comparisons across instruments showed that the IBQ and EITQ seem to measure similar aspects of behavioral style, because all of the IBQ dimensions were significantly related to the appropriate EITQ dimensions. These results support the validity of both questionnaires for use with infants in the first months of life.