CONTINUITY OF DIFFICULT TEMPERAMENT IN ADOLESCENCE - RELATIONS WITH DEPRESSION, LIFE EVENTS, FAMILY SUPPORT, AND SUBSTANCE USE ACROSS A ONE-YEAR PERIOD

This longitudinal shiny examined the continuity of temperamental diffi culty among a school-based sample of middle adolescents (n = 975) over a one-year period. Of the participants, 25% were classified as diffic ult at one or both measurement occasions and over 40% were classified as temperamentally discontinuous. Repeated measures multivariate analy zes of covariance analyses identified mean differences in psychosocial functioning by temperamental continuity groups and by gender, Tempera mental difficulty was associated with higher levels of depression, str essful life events, use of some substances, and lower levels of percei ved family support. Gender differences were indicated for family suppo rt, depression, life events, and alcohol nse.