RESILIENCE AND VULNERABILITY AMONG PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN - FAMILY FUNCTIONING, TEMPERAMENT, AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

Objective: To examine the effects of child temperament and stressful f amily functioning on child behavior problems among preschool children. Method: One hundred forty-five preschool children, aged 2 to 5 years, were evaluated by teachers, mothers, and independent observers. Teach ers reported on child temperament; from these ratings, two dimensions or temperament were derived: difficult/easy and approachability. Mothe rs reported on two dimensions of family functioning: conflict and expr essiveness. Both teachers and independent observers rated child behavi or problems. Results: Children with more difficult temperaments who we re in high-conflict families had the most internalizing and externaliz ing behavior problems, while children with easy temperaments had fewer such problems, regardless of levels of family conflict. Difficult chi ldren whose families were highly expressive engaged in the most observ ed aggression. Conclusions: Results suggest that temperament is involv ed in both protective and vulnerability processes. A difficult tempera ment operates as a vulnerability factor for internalizing and external izing behavior problems and observed aggression, while an easy tempera ment functions as a protective mechanism for these outcomes.