Relationships between parental ratings of infant temperament, risk status, and delivery method.

One hundred forty parents rated the temperament of their infants between the ages of 4 and 8 months. Analyses of the data examined the relationships between temperament and infant risk status (high or low), delivery method (vaginal or cesarean section), and the combined effects of infant risk status and delivery method. Although high-risk and low-risk infants were similar on the easy-difficult profile ratings of the revised infant temperament questionnaire, high-risk infants were rated more adaptable and more positive in mood than were the low-risk infants. Low-risk infants delivered by cesarean section were rated less optimally on three of the temperament factor scores, including withdrawal, mood, and adaptability. Interpretations of these findings are discussed and suggestions are offered for nurse practitioners and their provision of pediatric care to infants and their families.