Parental Perceptions of Infant Temperament and its Relation to Family Sociodemographic Variables

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to analyze parental perceptions of the temperament of children aged between four and six years and its relation to sociodemographic variables. Participants were 104 two-parent families, totaling 208 respondents. The instruments were a Sociodemographic Questionnaire and the Children's Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ), which assesses infant temperament. The results indicated negative affect as the factor of temperament most strongly related to different sociodemographic variables. Thus, results suggest that the higher the number of children and family members, and the lower the income and level of education of the parents, the stronger are indications of children's reactions of discomfort, sadness, fear, anger, and low soothability.