Relationship between neonatal behavior and subsequent temperament

The validity of the neonatal behavioral assessment scale in predicting later infant temperament is of theoretical and clinical importance. The scale was administered to 47 full-term healthy neonates. Of these, 40 were followed and the infant characteristics questionnaire was given at four months of age. Significant correlations were revealed between the neonatal assessment items from the clusters of orientation and motor maturity and the temperament factors "fussy-difficult" and "unpredictable". Items from the cluster of autonomic stability correlated with the temperament factor "unadaptable." These correlations possibly indicate that perceived temperament does reflect intrinsic infant qualities.