Relationships between infant temperament, demographic variables, and family dynamics of childrearing families

Parental Involvement, Child Temperament, and Parents' Work Hours: Differential Relations for Mothers and Fathers

This study examined how child temperament was related to parents' time spent accessible to and interacting with their 2-year-olds. Bivariate analyses indicated that both fathers and mothers spent more time with temperamentally challenging children than easier children on workdays, but fathers spent less time with challenging children than easier children on non-workdays. After accounting for work hours, some associations between temperament and fathers' workday involvement dropped to non-significance. For fathers, work hours also moderated the relation between irregular temperament and workday play. For mothers, work hours moderated the relation between both difficult and irregular temperament and workday interaction. Mothers also spent more time with girls (but not boys) who were temperamentally irregular. Results speak to the influence of child temperament on parenting behavior, and the differential construction of parenting roles as a function of child characteristics and patterns of work.

Fathers’ Perceptions of the Immediate Postpartal Period

PURPOSE

To describe the perceptions of first-time fathers regarding critical moments of the immediate postpartum period.

DESIGN

Qualitative study.

SETTING

Data were collected through semistructured interviews with the fathers, using the critical incident technique; this was done in their home, within the first 12 days following the birth of their child.

PARTICIPANTS

Sample consisted of 13 first-time fathers.

RESULTS

A qualitative analysis allowed for the identification of five domains, five categories, and 12 subcategories of critical incidents within the first 96 hours of the postpartum period. The five domains of incidents relate to self and others: as individuals, as a couple, and as parents in relationship with the environment and with the nursing personnel. On the basis of a combined score of fathers' presence on the maternity ward, we were able to define three subgroups. All groups of fathers were sensitive to interactions with their baby and with the nurses. Highly involved fathers reported not feeling supported by the hospital environment policies in regard to engaging in behaviors that could favor their involvement with their baby.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased awareness of fathers' experiences during the immediate postpartum period will enable nurses to respond more effectively to the fathers' needs.

Translation and restandardization of an instrument: the Early Infant Temperament Questionnaire

AIMS OF THE STUDY

To test the psychometric properties of a Danish translation of the Early Infant Temperament Questionnaire (EITQ) and to establish standards for scoring the questionnaire.

RATIONALE

The general aim was to create a translation that remained close to the original version, was meaningful for the Danish participants, and had acceptable psychometric properties.

BACKGROUND

Patterns of temperament can be discerned early in life and tend to persist over time and across situations. For the past 50 years, temperament has been studied by theorists, clinicians and nurse clinicians to predict behaviour, discover interventions that prevent serious behaviour disturbances, and help parents understand the implications of their child's temperament. Thomas and Chess's conceptualization of temperament in nine categories was the framework for the development of the English-language EITQ. Research methods. The translation followed a stepwise process of translation, back translation and consensus. A convenience sample of 204 Danish mothers with 1-4-month old infants completed the translated questionnaire and a demographic questionnaire in 1999.

RESULTS

Alpha coefficients for the nine subscales ranged from 0.59 to 0.82. All alpha coefficients were comparable to or higher than those reported on the original United States standardization study. There were statistically significant differences between reported United States mean scores and those in the Danish sample.

DISCUSSION

The psychometric properties of the Danish translation are equal to or better than those reported for the United States study. Differences in mean scores or most subscales point to the need to create Danish profiles for scoring.

CONCLUSIONS

The Danish version of the EITQ has acceptable reliability and is ready for use in Denmark.