Investigations of temperament at three to seven years: The children's behavior questionnaire

This article reviews evidence on the reliability and validity of the Childr en's Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ), and presents CBQ data on the structure o f temperament in childhood. The CBQ is a caregiver report measure designed to provide a detailed assessment of temperament in children 3 to 7 years of age. Individual differences are assessed on 15 primary temperament charact eristics: Positive Anticipation, Smiling/ Laughter, High Intensity Pleasure , Activity Level, Impulsivity, Shyness, Discomfort, Fear, Anger/Frustration , Sadness, Soothability, Inhibitory Control, Attentional Focusing, Low Inte nsity Pleasure, and Perceptual Sensitivity. Factor analyses of CBQ scales r eliably recover a three-factor solution indicating three broad dimensions o f temperament: Extraversion /Surgency, Negative Affectivity, and Effortful Control. This three-factor solution also appears to be reliably recovered i n ratings of children in other cultures (e.g., China and Japan). Evidence f or convergent validity derives from confirmation of hypothesized relations between temperament and socialization-relevant traits. In addition, parenta l agreement on CBQ ratings is substantial. The CBQ scales demonstrate adequ ate internal consistency, and may be used in studies requiring a highly dif ferentiated yet integrated measure of temperament for children in this age range.