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Differences in Behaviour and Temperament between Japanese and British Toddlers Living in London: A Pilot Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 1999

Elizabeth Arbiter ,
Rika Sato-Tanaka ,
Israel Kolvin  and
Ian Leitch
Elizabeth Arbiter
Affiliation:
Tavistock Clinic, 120 Belsize Lane, London NW3 5BA
Rika Sato-Tanaka
Affiliation:
Shiranui Hospital, Omuta, Japan Psychiatry Department, Tokyo Medical College, Tokyo, Japan
Israel Kolvin
Affiliation:
Tavistock Clinic, 120 Belsize Lane, London NW3 5BA Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, Pond Street, London NW3 2QG
Ian Leitch
Affiliation:
Tavistock Clinic, 120 Belsize Lane, London NW3 5BA
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Abstract

The aim of this postal survey was to highlight differences in temperament and behaviour between 32 toddlers in Japanese families living temporarily in London and 36 in British families, all in London. Mothers completed questionnaires about demography, perinatal events, and their child's temperament and behaviour. UK toddlers were described as exhibiting fewer behavioural symptoms than Japanese toddlers. Significantly more of the Japanese toddlers scored above the cutoff on the Behaviour Check List, indicating higher levels of behavioural disturbance. An interesting item is ‘sleeping with parent’, which occurs commonly in Japanese families and is considered to be normal for that culture. On the Toddler Temperament Scale the Japanese toddlers proved more distractable and more intense than the UK toddlers when age had been allowed for. It was of interest that Japanese girls proved more distractable than Japanese boys and UK girls. Possible explanations for the differences are advanced.

Keywords

Child temperamentchild behaviourcross-cultural differencesJapanese toddlersBritish toddlers
Type
Original Article
Information
Child Psychology and Psychiatry Review , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , September 1999 , pp. 117 - 125
Copyright
© 1999 Association for Child Psychology and Psychiatry

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