Tympanic Membrane Temperature and Emotional Dispositions in Preschool-Aged Children: A Methodological Study.

• Autores: Charles J. Brainerd, R. E. Holliday, Valerie F. Reyna
• Localización: Child development, ISSN 0009-3920, Vol. 75, Nº. 2, 2004, págs. 505-522
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • 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 (αs>.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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]