Temperament and follow-up to adulthood.

A follow-up of the New York longitudinal study at the 18-22-year period has been completed. Only one of the 133 subjects was not interviewed and evaluated. A temperament questionnaire for this age period has also been developed and given to 70 of the subjects. From the interview, ratings of temperament, adjustment and clinical psychiatric status were made. Statistical correlations showed significant relationships between 'difficult-easy' temperament at three and five years of age and early adult 'difficult-easy' temperament, adjustment, and presence or absence of a clinical psychiatric diagnosis. The importance of qualitative analyses of idiosyncratic developmental factors in individual cases is emphasized.