Behavioral Inhibition in Childhood: European Portuguese Adaptation of an Observational Measure (Lab-TAB)
The assessment of behaviorally inhibited children is typically based on parent or teacher reports, but this approach has received criticisms, mainly for being prone to bias. Several researchers proposed the additional use of observational methods because they provide a direct and more objective desc...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/2/162 |
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| author | Luís Faísca Laura I. Ferreira Catarina C. Fernandes Jeffrey R. Gagne Ana T. Martins |
| author_facet | Luís Faísca Laura I. Ferreira Catarina C. Fernandes Jeffrey R. Gagne Ana T. Martins |
| author_sort | Luís Faísca |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The assessment of behaviorally inhibited children is typically based on parent or teacher reports, but this approach has received criticisms, mainly for being prone to bias. Several researchers proposed the additional use of observational methods because they provide a direct and more objective description of the child's functioning in different contexts. The lack of a laboratory assessment of temperament for Portuguese children justifies the adaptation of some episodes of the Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery (Lab-TAB) as an observational measure for behavioral inhibition. Method: In our study, we included 124 children aged between 3 and 9 years and their parents. The evaluation of child behavioral inhibition was made by parent report (Behavioral Inhibition Questionnaire) and through Lab-TAB episodes. Parental variables with potential influence on parents’ reports were also collected using the Social Interaction and Performance Anxiety and Avoidance Scale (SIPAAS) and the Parental Overprotection Measure (POM). Results and Discussion: The psychometric analyses provided evidence that Lab-TAB is a reliable instrument and can be incorporated in a multi-method approach to assess behavioral inhibition in studies involving Portuguese-speaking children. Moderate convergence between observational and parent report measures of behavioral inhibition was obtained. Mothers’ characteristics, as well as child age, seem to significantly affect differences between measures, being potential sources of bias in the assessment of child temperament. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:39:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a145df1e8e424a05b1f6289ad862fbbc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:39:44Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-a145df1e8e424a05b1f6289ad862fbbc2023-12-11T17:53:51ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672021-02-018216210.3390/children8020162Behavioral Inhibition in Childhood: European Portuguese Adaptation of an Observational Measure (Lab-TAB)Luís Faísca0Laura I. Ferreira1Catarina C. Fernandes2Jeffrey R. Gagne3Ana T. Martins4Department of Psychology and Education Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8000-000 Faro, PortugalDepartment of Psychology and Education Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8000-000 Faro, PortugalDepartment of Psychology and Education Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8000-000 Faro, PortugalDepartment of Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Psychology and Education Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8000-000 Faro, PortugalThe assessment of behaviorally inhibited children is typically based on parent or teacher reports, but this approach has received criticisms, mainly for being prone to bias. Several researchers proposed the additional use of observational methods because they provide a direct and more objective description of the child's functioning in different contexts. The lack of a laboratory assessment of temperament for Portuguese children justifies the adaptation of some episodes of the Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery (Lab-TAB) as an observational measure for behavioral inhibition. Method: In our study, we included 124 children aged between 3 and 9 years and their parents. The evaluation of child behavioral inhibition was made by parent report (Behavioral Inhibition Questionnaire) and through Lab-TAB episodes. Parental variables with potential influence on parents’ reports were also collected using the Social Interaction and Performance Anxiety and Avoidance Scale (SIPAAS) and the Parental Overprotection Measure (POM). Results and Discussion: The psychometric analyses provided evidence that Lab-TAB is a reliable instrument and can be incorporated in a multi-method approach to assess behavioral inhibition in studies involving Portuguese-speaking children. Moderate convergence between observational and parent report measures of behavioral inhibition was obtained. Mothers’ characteristics, as well as child age, seem to significantly affect differences between measures, being potential sources of bias in the assessment of child temperament.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/2/162behavioral inhibitionchild temperamentLab-TABobservational datapsychometricsassessment bias |
| spellingShingle | Luís Faísca Laura I. Ferreira Catarina C. Fernandes Jeffrey R. Gagne Ana T. Martins Behavioral Inhibition in Childhood: European Portuguese Adaptation of an Observational Measure (Lab-TAB) Children behavioral inhibition child temperament Lab-TAB observational data psychometrics assessment bias |
| title | Behavioral Inhibition in Childhood: European Portuguese Adaptation of an Observational Measure (Lab-TAB) |
| title_full | Behavioral Inhibition in Childhood: European Portuguese Adaptation of an Observational Measure (Lab-TAB) |
| title_fullStr | Behavioral Inhibition in Childhood: European Portuguese Adaptation of an Observational Measure (Lab-TAB) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Behavioral Inhibition in Childhood: European Portuguese Adaptation of an Observational Measure (Lab-TAB) |
| title_short | Behavioral Inhibition in Childhood: European Portuguese Adaptation of an Observational Measure (Lab-TAB) |
| title_sort | behavioral inhibition in childhood european portuguese adaptation of an observational measure lab tab |
| topic | behavioral inhibition child temperament Lab-TAB observational data psychometrics assessment bias |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/2/162 |
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