Associations among temperament characteristics and telomere length and attrition rate in early childhood

Temperament and sex as moderating factors of the effects of exposure to maternal depression on telomere length in early childhood

Individual differences in sensitivity to context are posited to emerge early in development and to influence the effects of environmental exposures on a range of developmental outcomes. The goal of the current study was to examine the hypothesis that temperament characteristics and biological sex confer differential vulnerability to the effects of exposure to maternal depression on telomere length in early childhood. Telomere length has emerged as a potentially important biomarker of current and future health, with possible mechanistic involvement in the onset of various disease states. Participants comprised a community sample of children followed from infancy to age 3 years. Relative telomere length was assessed from DNA in saliva samples collected at infancy, 2 years, and 3 years. Maternal depressive symptoms and the child temperament traits of negative affectivity, surgency/extraversion, and regulation/effortful control were assessed via maternal report at each timepoint. Analyses revealed a 3-way interaction among surgency/extraversion, sex, and maternal depressive symptoms, such that higher surgency/extraversion was associated with shorter telomere length specifically among males exposed to elevated maternal depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that temperament and sex influence children's susceptibility to the effects of maternal depression on telomere dynamics in early life.

Revisiting Jerome Kagan and his research legacy: An introduction to a special issue of Developmental Psychology

This special issue of Developmental Psychology is dedicated to the legacy of Jerome Kagan, whose pioneering work profoundly shaped the field of developmental psychology. Kagan's groundbreaking research on temperament, emotional development, and the role of biology in shaping human behavior provided a foundation for understanding individual differences across the lifespan. The 20 articles featured in this issue reflect the breadth and depth of Kagan's influence, spanning topics such as the biological underpinnings of temperament, the interplay between genetics and environment, and the implications of early temperament for later emotional and social outcomes. These contributions come from leading scholars who build on, critique, and reframe Kagan's work. Each article offers a unique perspective, using diverse methodologies and theoretical approaches. This special issue not only pays tribute to a luminary in the field but also seeks to contribute new insights into the fundamental processes of development. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).