Revised Dimensions of Temperament Survey (DOTS-R): Simultaneous Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis for Adolescent Gender Groups

Confirmatory factor analyses supported the plausibility of a 10-factor model of the Revised Dimensions of Temperament Survey (DOTS-R; Windle & Lerner, 1986) with a sample of 975 teenagers. Simultaneous group models across gender indicated an invariant pattern for factor loadings and factor intercorrelations. Internal consistency estimates and test-retest stability were moderately high for the 10 temperament attributes, and consensual validity was indicated by convergent/discriminant correlations between adolescent and primary caregiver agreement indexes. A secondorder factor analysis revealed 3 factors: Adaptability/Positive Affect, Attentional Focus, and General Rhythmicity. In terms of levels of temperament, girls reported more adaptability/positive affect, whereas boys reported more attentional focus and general rhythmicity.