Temperamental characteristics of three- to four-year-old boys and girls and child-family interactions.

Mothers interviewed in their homes provided information concerning their child's temperamental characteristics, mild behaviour problems and family interactions. The characteristics active, shy (approach/withdrawal; not settling in) and moody/intense were consistent from 42 to 50 months of age for both sexes. No simple sex differences appeared in these three characteristics. There was little evidence for an association between active and either mild behaviour problems or family interactions. For both girls and boys, moody/intense scores were associated with mild behaviour problems and 'negative' family interactions. However, while shy scores of boys were associated with negative family interactions, shy scores of girls were associated with positive interactions, especially at the later age of 50 months.