Annual Progress Report, 31 Oct 1988-1989
Abstract
Interviews were conducted with 252 first and second degree relatives of children who had been selected in the second or third year of life as extremely inhibited or uninhibited in their temperamental classification. In addition, interviews were conducted with a group of 95 relatives of children who did not belong to either temperamental group. The most robust result was the occurrence of a significantly higher frequency of reports of hay fever in the relatives of inhibited children (32 percent versus 20 percent, p < .01). Additionally, more relatives of inhibited children reported having chronic constipation (14 percent versus 6 percent). Finally self reports of shyness both in adulthood and childhood were more frequent in the relatives of inhibited than the relatives on uninhibited children. Further, the shy adults were more likely to report suffering from asthma, headaches, or constipation. In addition, interviews were conducted with 478 first and second degree relatives of 100 infants who belong to a volunteer sample and are being seen in our laboratory at 2, 4, 9, 14, and 21 months for evaluations of signs of limbic arousal and precursors of inhibited and uninhibited behavior in the second year. The data from this sample are in accord with those from the primary sample. There was a higher frequency of respiratory allergies and migraine headaches in the relatives of infants who showed both high limbic arousal at 4 months of age and high fearfulness in the second year of life. Keywords: Allergies; Anxiety; Behavior. (KT)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 11, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA213451
Entities
People
- Jerome Kagan
Organizations
- Harvard University