Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Temperament Assessment Battery for Children-Revised: Parent Form

Abstract

Temperament refers to the biologically rooted, individual differences in behavioral tendencies that present early in life and are relatively sta ble across situations and over time. Tempera ment has been shown to relate to adult per sonality characteristics and to predict behav ioral problems during childhood and into adulthood. The Temperament Assessment Battery for Children-Revised: Parent Form (TABC-R:PF) was developed by Martin (1998) to measure temperament characteristics of children aged 3 to 7 years. The factor structure of this instrument was evaluated using EFA and CFA of mothers' ratings of 266 typically developing children. The results indicated that a four-factor temperament model (Inhibition, Negative Emotionality, Activity Level, and Task Persistence) based on 27 items provided the best fit for the data. The internal consistency of these factors was found to be acceptable (Cronbach's α = .73 to .86).