ERIC Number: EJ685562
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Mar
Pages: 18
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0009-3920
EISSN: N/A
Tympanic Membrane Temperature and Emotional Dispositions in Preschool-Aged Children: A Methodological Study
Gunnar, Megan R.; Donzella, Bonny
Child Development, v75 n2 p505-522 Mar 2004
Tympanic membrane (TM) temperature asymmetry has been proposed as a phenotypic marker of vulnerability to negative emotionality in children. Little is known about the stability of TM temperatures or how readily one can obtain a reliable index of the phenotype. TM temperatures were collected from 3- to 5-year-old children (N=73) over 5 months (Mdn=34 samples). Seven to 10 samples needed to be aggregated to achieve reliable measures (a s>.70). Using reliable estimates, TM asymmetry remained stable over time, r(72)=.72, p<.01; 70% of the children had warmer left TMs; and TM asymmetry correlated as predicted with measures of children's emotionality. TM asymmetry may be a phenotypic marker of vulnerability to negative emotionality, but measures obtained on one occasion may not reliably index the phenotype.
Descriptors: Predictor Variables, Predictive Measurement, Emotional Development, Young Children, Emotional Response, Human Body, Physiology
Journal Customer Services, Blackwell Publishing, 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770 (Toll Free); Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: subscrip@bos.blackwellpublishing.com.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A