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National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 Child and Young Adult (NLSCYA)

Appendix B: Composition of the Temperament Scales (NLSY79 Child)

The information for the composition of the Temperament scales is divided into two tables to allow for the different pattern of the Sociability subscale composition. More information about the Temperament assessment can be found in the Topical Guide.

Table 1. How My Child Acts: Composition of the Temperament Scales (Excluding Sociability subscale)
Scale Age in Months Question Name* 2000-2004 Question Name* 2006-Current Item Description
Activity
Section A 0-11 ACT-A01** MS-ACT-A01 During feeding, how often does child squirm and kick?
0-11 ACT-A02** MS-ACT-A02 During feeding, how often does child wave [his/her] arms?  
0-11 ACT-A03** MS-ACT-A03 During sleep, how often does [he/she] usually move around in the crib?  
Predictability
Section A 0-11 ACT-A04** MS-ACT-A04 Some children get sleepy about the same time each evening, give or take 15 minutes. How often does your child do this?
0-11 ACT-A05** MS-ACT-A05 Some children get hungry at about the same time each day, give or take 15 minutes. How often does your child do this?  
0-11 ACT-A06** MS-ACT-A06 When [he/she] wakes up in the morning, how often is [he/she] in the same mood?  
Fearfulness
Section A 0-11 ACT-A07** MS-ACT-A07 When child sees a stranger, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?
0-11 ACT-A08** MS-ACT-A08 When [he/she] sees an unfamiliar dog or cat, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?  
0-11 ACT-A09** MS-ACT-A09 When you leave the room and leave [him/her] alone, how often does [he/she] become upset?  
0-11 ACT-A10** MS-ACT-A10 When you take child to the doctor, dentist or nurse, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?  
Section B 12-23 ACT-B01 MS-ACT-B01 When child sees a stranger, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?
12-23 ACT-B02 MS-ACT-B02 When [he/she] sees an unfamiliar dog or cat, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?  
12-23 ACT-B03 MS-ACT-B03 When you leave the room and leave [him/her] alone, how often does [he/she] become upset?  
12-23 ACT-B04 MS-ACT-B04 When you take child to the doctor, dentist or nurse, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?  
Positive Affect
Section A 0-11 ACT-A11** MS-ACT-A11 When you play with child, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?
0-11 ACT-A12** MS-ACT-A12 When [he/she] plays alone, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
0-11 ACT-A13** MS-ACT-A13 When [he/she] is in the bath, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
Section B 12-23 ACT-B05 MS-ACT-B05 When you play with child, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?
12-23 ACT-B06 MS-ACT-B06 When [he/she] plays alone, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
12-23 ACT-B07 MS-ACT-B07 When [he/she] is in the bath, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
Compliance
Section C 24-83 ACT-C01 MS-ACT-C01 When it is mealtime, how often does child eat what you want [him/her] to eat?
24-83 ACT-C02 MS-ACT-C02 When child doesn't eat what you want [him/her] to eat and you tell [him/her] to do so, how often does [he/she] obey and eat?  
24-83 ACT-C03 MS-ACT-C03 When it is child's bedtime, how often does [he/she] protest or resist going to bed?  
24-83 ACT-C04 MS-ACT-C04 When [he/she] does protest and you tell [him/her] again to go to bed, how often does [he/she] do so?  
24-83 ACT-C05 MS-ACT-C05 When you tell child to turn off the TV, how often does [he/she] do so without protest?  
24-83 ACT-C06 MS-ACT-C06 When [he/she] does protest and you tell [him/her] again to turn off the TV, how often does [he/she] do so?  
Insecure Attachment
Section C 24-83 ACT-C13 MS-ACT-C13 How often do you have trouble soothing or calming child when [he/she] is upset?
24-83 ACT-C14 MS-ACT-C14 When child is playing, how often does [he/she] stay close to you and make sure that [he/she] can still see you?  
24-83 ACT-C15 MS-ACT-C15 How often does [he/she] try to copy what you do or how you act?  
24-83 ACT-C16 MS-ACT-C16 When you leave the room and leave your child alone, how often does [he/she] get upset?  
24-83 ACT-C17 MS-ACT-C17 How often is child demanding and impatient even when you are busy?  
24-83 ACT-C18 MS-ACT-C18 When you get upset about something, how often does child get worried, or try to help or make mom feel better?  
24-83 ACT-C19 MS-ACT-C19 How often does child want you to help with things [he/she] is doing?  
Difficulty Composite (Abbreviated)
Section A 0-11 ACT-A04** MS-ACT-A04 Some children get sleepy about the same time each evening, give or take 15 minutes. How often does your child do this?
0-11 ACT-A05** MS-ACT-A05 Some children get hungry at about the same time each day, give or take 15 minutes. How often does your child do this?  
0-11 ACT-A06** MS-ACT-A06 When [he/she] wakes up in the morning, how often is [he/she] in the same mood?  
0-11 ACT-A07** MS-ACT-A07 When child sees a stranger, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?  
0-11 ACT-A08** MS-ACT-A08 When [he/she] sees an unfamiliar dog or cat, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?  
0-11 ACT-A09** MS-ACT-A09 When you leave the room and leave [him/her] alone, how often does [he/she] become upset?  
0-11 ACT-A10** MS-ACT-A10 When you take child to the doctor, dentist or nurse, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?  
0-11 ACT-A11** MS-ACT-A11 When you play with child, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
0-11 ACT-A12** MS-ACT-A12 When [he/she] plays alone, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
0-11 ACT-A13** MS-ACT-A13 When [he/she] is in the bath, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
0-11 ACT-A14** MS-ACT-A14 When child hears an unexpected loud sound (for example, a car back-firing or a vacuum cleaner), how often does [he/she] cry or become upset?  
0-11 ACT-A15** MS-ACT-A15 How often do you have trouble soothing or calming [him/her] when [he/she] is crying or upset?  
0-11 ACT-A16** MS-ACT-A16 During the average day, how often does child get fussy and irritable?  
0-11 ACT-A17** MS-ACT-A17 In general, compared with most babies, how often does child cry and fuss?  
Section B 12-23 ACT-B01 MS-ACT-B01 When child sees a stranger, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?
12-23 ACT-B02 MS-ACT-B02 When child sees an unfamiliar dog or cat, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?  
12-23 ACT-B03 MS-ACT-B03 When you leave the room and leave [him/her] alone, how often does [he/she] become upset?  
12-23 ACT-B04 MS-ACT-B04 When you take child to the doctor, dentist or nurse, how often does[he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?  
12-23 ACT-B05 MS-ACT-B05 When you play with child, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
12-23 ACT-B06 MS-ACT-B06 When [he/she] plays alone, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
12-23 ACT-B07 MS-ACT-B07 When [he/she] is in the bath, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
12-23 ACT-B08 MS-ACT-B08 When child hears an unexpected loud sound (for example, a car back-firing or a vacuum cleaner), how often does [he/she] cry or become upset?  
12-23 ACT-B09 MS-ACT-B09 How often do you have trouble soothing or calming [him/her] when [he/she] is crying or upset?  
12-23 ACT-B10 MS-ACT-B10 During the average day, how often does child get fussy and irritable?  
12-23 ACT-B11 MS-ACT-B11 In general, compared with most toddlers, how often does child cry and fuss?  
Negative Hedonic Tone Composite
Section A 0-11 ACT-A07** MS-ACT-A07 When child sees a stranger, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?
0-11 ACT-A08** MS-ACT-A08 When [he/she] sees an unfamiliar dog or cat, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?  
0-11 ACT-A09** MS-ACT-A09 When you leave the room and leave [him/her] alone, how often does [he/she] become upset?  
0-11 ACT-A10** MS-ACT-A10 When you take child to the doctor, dentist or nurse, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?  
0-11 ACT-A11** MS-ACT-A11 When you play with child, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
0-11 ACT-A12** MS-ACT-A12 When [he/she] plays alone, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
0-11 ACT-A13** MS-ACT-A13 When [he/she] is in the bath, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
0-11 ACT-A14** MS-ACT-A14 When child hears an unexpected loud sound (for example, a car back-firing or a vacuum cleaner), how often does [he/she] cry or become upset?  
0-11 ACT-A15** MS-ACT-A15 How often do you have trouble soothing or calming [him/her] when [he/she] is crying or upset?  
0-11 ACT-A16** MS-ACT-A16 During the average day, how often does child get fussy and irritable?  
0-11 ACT-A17** MS-ACT-A17 In general, compared with most babies, how often does child cry and fuss?  
Section B 12-23 ACT-B01 MS-ACT-B01 When child sees a stranger, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?
12-23 ACT-B02 MS-ACT-B02 When child sees an unfamiliar dog or cat, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?  
12-23 ACT-B03 MS-ACT-B03 When you leave the room and leave [him/her] alone, how often does [he/she] become upset?  
12-23 ACT-B04 MS-ACT-B04 When you take child to the doctor, dentist or nurse, how often does[he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?  
12-23 ACT-B05 MS-ACT-B05 When you play with child, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
12-23 ACT-B06 MS-ACT-B06 When [he/she] plays alone, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
12-23 ACT-B07 MS-ACT-B07 When [he/she] is in the bath, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?  
12-23 ACT-B08 MS-ACT-B08 When child hears an unexpected loud sound (for example, a car back-firing or a vacuum cleaner), how often does [he/she] cry or become upset?  
12-23 ACT-B09 MS-ACT-B09 How often do you have trouble soothing or calming [him/her] when [he/she] is crying or upset?  
12-23 ACT-B10 MS-ACT-B10 During the average day, how often dows child get fussy and irritable?  
12-23 ACT-B11 MS-ACT-B11 In general, compared with most toddlers, how often does child cry and fuss?  
Friendliness Composite Abbreviation
Section A 0-11 ACT-A14** MS-ACT-A14 When child hears an unexpected loud sound (for example, a car back-firing or a vacuum cleaner), how often does [he/she] cry or become upset?
0-11 ACT-A15** MS-ACT-A15 How often do you have trouble soothing or calming [him/her] when [he/she] is crying or upset?  
0-11 ACT-A16** MS-ACT-A16 During the average day, how often does child get fussy and irritable?  
0-11 ACT-A17** MS-ACT-A17 In general, compared with most babies, how often does child cry and fuss?  
Section B 12-23 ACT-B08 MS-ACT-B08 When child hears an unexpected loud sound (for example, a car back-firing or a vacuum cleaner), how often does [he/she] cry or become upset?
12-23 ACT-B09 MS-ACT-B09 When child hears an unexpected loud sound (for example, a car back-firing or a vacuum cleaner), how often does [he/she] cry or become upset?  
12-23 ACT-B10 MS-ACT-B10 During the average day, how often does child get fussy and irritable?  
12-23 ACT-B11 MS-ACT-B11 In general, compared with most toddlers, how often does child cry and fuss?  
         

Notes:

*Temperament items for 1986-1998 do not have consistent question names. Search for Word in Title = TEMPERAMENT to locate temperament items for these years

**These Temperament items were not administered in 2000.
 

Question numbers in BOLD indicate that the item is reversed in scoring.

Scroll right to view additional table columns.

Table 2. Composition of the Sociability Subscale
Sociability Age in Months Question Names Item Description
1986 1988 1990 1992 1994-98 2000-04 2006-Current
Section C 48-83 CS863131 CS883330 CS906021 CS926135 CSYYEV-1A CSEV-1A CSEV-1M~000001 How was child’s attitude toward being tested?
48-83 CS863132 CS883331 CS906023 CS926137 CSYYEV-1B CSEV-1B CSEV-1M~000002 How was child’s rapport with interviewer?
48-83 CS863134 CS883333 CS906027 CS926141 CSYYEV-1D CSEV-1D CSEV-1M~000004 How was child’s cooperation?
Note: The items in the sociability subscale are administered in the Child Supplement. For survey years 1986-1992, the item names follow this pattern: CS+YR+deck and column # in the paper questionnaire. The "CSYY" string in the Q names for 1994-1998 refers to the Child Supplement, 2-digit Year of Survey.