Temperament is a personal variable which interacts with environmental variables and therefore may have an influence on child developmental pathways. The purpose of the present study was to review systematically the empirical studies published from 2001 to 2006 about temperament and its relationship to child development. Fifty empirical studies indexed in the data bases PsycInfo, MEDLINE and LILACS were selected through systematic bibliographic review. It was found that the most frequently used theoretical approach for studying temperament was the Rothbart`s psychobiological approach. Temperament was assessed predominantly through questionnaires answered by mothers. The findings of the studies showed that children with temperament characterized by high levels of negative mood, fear, shyness and anger are vulnerable for exhibiting developmental problems. Temperament with high levels of effortful control, which indicates the ability to suppress behavioral and motivational trends guided by the affect and to reprogram the behavior in situations of conflict of interests, is associated to adaptive developmental outcomes.
Temperament; childhood development; behavior