Studying Temperament via Construction of the Toddler Behavior Assessment Questionnaire

Abstract

The Toddler Behavior Assessment Questionnaire (TBAQ) was constructed by an iterative process of item generation intended to ensure content validity, by repeated item analyses focused on internal consistency and discriminant properties, and by scale revision. During the construction and initial validation processes reported in this article, data from 1,012 records were utilized. Internal consistency reliability estimates typically exceeded .80 for each scale. Evidence for convergent validity with other temperament questionnaires and for longitudinal stability was also obtained. Besides yielding a promising instrument, this assessment research has conceptual ramifications. For instance, components of negative affectivity (anger proneness and fearfulness) were independent, and item analyses suggested that shyness and other fears were independent as well. Consistent with most current views of temperament, the TBAQ temperament scales revealed some relationship and/or contextual specificity, as exemplified by the finding of only moderate parental agreement. The rank ordering on most temperament dimensions was impressively preserved from age 12 months, when the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) was used, to age 18 months, when the TBAQ was used (especially when subtle differences between the IBQ and TBAQ were taken into account). Most of the analyses benefit from replication.

Early Behavioral Inhibition and Increased Error Monitoring Predict Later Social Phobia Symptoms in Childhood

“…Observations were coded for each episode and inter-rater reliability (Intraclass correlations) ranged from .72 to .98 ( M = .87; 19% overlap; two coders) for 2-year coding and .93 to 1.00 ( M = .98; 10% overlap; two coders) for 3-year coding. Maternal report of social fear was obtained using the Toddler Behavior Assessment Questionnaire (TBAQ; 41 ). As in previous work, measures were standardized and averaged to create a BI composite 42,43 .…”

Maternal Depressive Symptoms, Maternal Behavior, and Toddler Internalizing Outcomes: A Moderated Mediation Model

“…Previous research has established acceptable internal consistency (as > .80 for each scale), and validity of this measure has been supported by associations with other temperament questionnaires [38]. The TBAQ contains 11 scales, each of which contains 10 items.…”

“…Mothers completed a revised version of the Toddler Behavior Assessment Questionnaire (TBAQ) [38], a 110-item questionnaire assessing temperament-related behavior in children 16 to 36 months of age. Previous research has established acceptable internal consistency (as > .80 for each scale), and validity of this measure has been supported by associations with other temperament questionnaires [38].…”

Cognitive Conflict Links Behavioural Inhibition and Social Problem Solving During Social Exclusion in Childhood

“…Children’s behavior was coded, and inter-rater reliability (Intraclass correlations) ranged from .72 to .98 ( M = .87; 19% overlap; two coders) for 24-months and .93 to 1.00 ( M = .98; 10% overlap; two coders) for 36-months. Additionally, parental report of social fear was obtained using the Toddler Behavior Assessment Questionnaire (TBAQ; Goldsmith, 1996). These measures were standardized and averaged to create a composite BI measure.…”