TEMPERAMENT, SOCIAL COMPETENCE AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS AMONG INTERNATIONALLY ADOPTED CHILDREN AT AGE FOUR

The present study compares temperament, social competence and behavior problems among 119 adopted and 1159 non- adopted children at age four. The study also examined the contribution of temperament, social competence and transition reactions on externalizing and internalizing behavior problems within the adopted group. All data are based on parental ratings. The outcomes documented no significant differences in temperament. However, non-adopted children scored higher on play and prosocial behavior. Within the adopted children; prosocial competence gave a positive contribution to both internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Negative affect contributed to higher scores on both types of behavior problems. Surgency contributed to more externalizing behavior while effortful control resulted in less such behavior. Negative affect and transition reaction gave both a negative contribution to internalizing behavior problems. Neither gender nor age of adoption gave any contribution to adopted children’s behavior problems.