The relation of temperament and social factors to behavior problems in three-year-old children.

Using data obtained during an epidemiological survey of the total population of three-year-old children on the island of Martha's Vineyard, an investigation was made of the relationship of temperament characteristics and social factors to behavior adjustment in 90 children. The analyses show that according to mothers' reports, inflexibility, a temperament characteristic of the child, negative parent-child interaction and high family stress are most highly associated with poor behavior adjustment. A path analysis suggested the hypothesis that flexibility of the child and positive parent-child interaction curtail the overall adverse effect of high family stress on behavioral adjustment in children.