The Australian Temperament Project (ATP) is a longitudinal study of the psychosocial development of a large and representative sample of Australian children born in the state of Victoria, Australia between September 1982 and January 1983. The study aims to trace the pathways to psychosocial adjustment and maladjustment across the lifespan, and to investigate the contribution of personal, family and environmental factors to development and wellbeing. A major theme throughout has been the influence of an individual's temperament on his/her emotional and behavioural adjustment. The broad issues addressed include:
- the contribution of temperament to a child's emotional, behavioural and school adjustment;
- the impact of family and environmental factors, together with child characteristics, on emotional and behavioural adjustment;
- the factors and processes involved in the progression of childhood behaviour problems (e.g. aggression, hyperactivity, anxiety) to adolescent and adult adjustment difficulties (e.g. antisocial behaviour, substance use, depression);
- genetic influences on temperament and behaviour;
- the development of healthy, socially competent functioning;
- the development of civic mindedness and social responsibility;
- the transition to young adulthood: pathways to occupational and educational participation, the development of interpersonal relationships, and family formation.
The initial sample comprised 2443 families from urban and rural areas of the state. Approximately two-thirds of the families are still participating in the study after 24 years. Fourteen waves of data have been collected by mail surveys from 4-8 months to 24 years of age. The first four waves of data were collected at annual intervals from infancy to 3-4 years of age. From the commencement of primary school up to 19-20 years, the data collections have been at two yearly intervals, with an additional assessment completed during the first year of secondary school in order to track wellbeing over this important developmental transition. There has been a four-year gap between the survey waves at 19-20 years and 23-24 years, and it is anticipated that there will be a similar gap to the next data collection.
Parents, Maternal and Child Health nurses, primary school teachers, and from the age of 11 years, the children themselves, have completed questionnaires about the young people's development and wellbeing. These include temperament, behavioural and school adjustment, substance use, antisocial behaviour, depression, health, social competence, civic mindedness and engagement, peer relationships, family functioning, parenting style and family environment. There have also been a number of smaller, in-depth studies addressing specific developmental and clinical themes in which sub-samples of families have been visited at home and the children individually assessed.
A book about the project 'Pathways from infancy to adolescence: Australian Temperament Project 1983-2000', authored by Margot Prior, Ann Sanson, Diana Smart and Frank Oberklaid, was published in 2000 as an AIFS Research Report and is available on the AIFS website. The book is designed to give an accessible, non-technical overview of the study, its methods and findings.
