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)
Table 2. Composition of the Sociability Subscale

Important information

Temperament items for 1986-1998 do not have consistent question names. Search for "Word in Title" contains TEMPERAMENT in the NLS Investigator to locate temperament items for these years. Investigator interface showing search tab

Table 1. How My Child Acts: Composition of the Temperament scales (excluding Sociability subscale)
Scale	Section	Age in Months	Question Name 2000-2004	Question Name 2006-Current	Item Description
Activity	Section A	0-11	ACT-A01 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A01	During feeding, how often does child squirm and kick?
		0-11	ACT-A02 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A02	During feeding, how often does child wave [his/her] arms?
		0-11	ACT-A03 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A03	During sleep, how often does [he/she] usually move around in the crib?
Predictability	Section A	0-11	ACT-A04 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A07	When child sees a stranger, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?
		0-11	ACT-A08 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A09	When you leave the room and leave [him/her] alone, how often does [he/she] become upset?
		0-11	ACT-A10 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A11	When you play with child, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?
		0-11	ACT-A12 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A12	When [he/she] plays alone, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?
		0-11	ACT-A13 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A06	When [he/she] wakes up in the morning, how often is [he/she] in the same mood?
		0-11	ACT-A07 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A07	When child sees a stranger, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?
		0-11	ACT-A08 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A09	When you leave the room and leave [him/her] alone, how often does [he/she] become upset?
		0-11	ACT-A10 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A11	When you play with child, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?
		0-11	ACT-A12 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A12	When [he/she] plays alone, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?
		0-11	ACT-A13 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A13	When [he/she] is in the bath, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?
		0-11	ACT-A14 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A16	During the average day, how often does child get fussy and irritable?
		0-11	ACT-A17 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A07	When child sees a stranger, how often does [he/she] turn away or cry as if afraid?
		0-11	ACT-A08 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A09	When you leave the room and leave [him/her] alone, how often does [he/she] become upset?
		0-11	ACT-A10 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A11	When you play with child, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?
		0-11	ACT-A12 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A12	When [he/she] plays alone, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?
		0-11	ACT-A13 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A13	When [he/she] is in the bath, how often does [he/she] smile or laugh?
		0-11	ACT-A14 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A16	During the average day, how often does child get fussy and irritable?
		0-11	ACT-A17 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	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 Note 1.1	MS-ACT-A16	During the average day, how often does child get fussy and irritable?
		0-11	ACT-A17 Note 1.1	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?
Question numbers in BOLD indicate that the item is reversed in scoring. Note 1.1: These Temperament items were not administered in 2000.

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Table 2. Composition of the Sociability subscale
Sociability	Age in Months	Question Names							Item Description
Sociability	Age in Months	1986	1988	1990	1992	1994-1998	2000-2004	2006-Current	Item Description
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.