Evaluation of a modified version of the integrative child temperament inventory for 6-to-16-month-old infants

BACKGROUND: Infant temperament is seen as a foundational factor in predicting adaptive development and long-term mental health. Measuring temperament provides important information concerning behavior and reactions and may indicate further development and adaptations of an infant. The availability of widely accepted and validated questionnaires is limited for the age range between 12 and 18 months. AIM: The present study aimed to validate an age-adapted version of the Integrative Child Temperament Inventory (ICTI) as an efficient measure for temperament of infants between six and 16 months of age. METHOD: The ICTI comprises five factors. Items were modified for use with infants. The final sample consisted of 293 caregivers (274 mothers, 18 fathers, participation of both parents in one case; 75.8% between 31 and 40 years) who completed the baseline survey regarding their infant aged between six and 16 months. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The a priori CFA did not provide optimal model fit, but EFA and parallel analysis supported a five-factor structure, and a reduced 18-item version subsequently showed acceptable model fit. Internal consistency ranged from modest to good (ω =.57-.80), while all five scales demonstrated substantial test-retest stability (r = .67-.86). Validity correlations were generally consistent with expectations, providing initial support for the reliability and validity of the reduced ICTI6-16.