PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF THE 3 VARIABLES IN THE STRELAU TEMPERAMENT INVENTORY

Most of the validational studies concerning the Strelau Temperament In ventory (STI) have focused on the Strength of Excitation scale and on a limited number of domains. This study was designed to examine the ST I validity in new domains or with new tools, emphasizing the contribut ion of each of the three STI scales. We focused on health orientation and behaviour, stress susceptibility, emotional reactions, life events , and personal problems. The subjects were 91 healthy adults of both g enders. Also information about smoking (health behaviour), white blood cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (physiological stress m easures) was available. Regression and discriminant analyses showed th at the STI scales were related neither to smoking nor to the Cognitive Orientation of Health but only to three of its components. Furthermor e, the STI scales were related to the verbal but not to the physiologi cal stress measures; and to the negative emotions but hardly to the po sitive ones. Finally, they were related to measures of life events and personal problems. The relations were mostly modest but broadened the validational basis of the STI, indicating that, although all three sc ales have to be considered, each has a unique contribution.