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Does executive function matter for preschoolers' problem behaviors?

Claire Hughes1, Rosie Ensor

  • 1Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge, CB2 3RF, UK. ch288@cam.ac.uk

Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|October 5, 2007
PubMed
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Executive function (EF) is strongly linked to early problem behaviors, showing a specific association not seen with theory of mind (ToM) or verbal ability. Age-3 EF also mediates the link between early verbal skills and later behavioral issues.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Psychology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Early problem behaviors are linked to cognitive deficits in verbal ability, executive function (EF), and theory of mind (ToM).
  • Prior research shows conflicting results regarding the salience of these deficits across different age groups.
  • For 2-year-olds, ToM skills appear most critical, while for 4-year-olds, EF seems more important.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental changes in the relative importance of cognitive deficits associated with problem behaviors.
  • To examine the specific associations between EF, ToM, verbal ability, and problem behaviors from ages 3 to 4.
  • To determine if EF mediates the relationship between early verbal ability and later problem behaviors.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Followed 122 children from ages 3 to 4.
  • Administered tests of ToM, EF, and verbal ability at each time point.
  • Utilized multi-informant, multi-measure, and multi-setting ratings for problem behaviors.

Main Results:

  • EF demonstrated strong and specific associations with problem behaviors.
  • ToM and verbal ability showed non-specific links to problem behaviors.
  • Age-3 EF mediated the relationship between age-2 verbal ability and age-4 problem behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • Executive function is a key cognitive predictor of early problem behaviors.
  • The specific role of EF in problem behaviors may become more pronounced with age.
  • Interventions targeting EF in early childhood could potentially mitigate later behavioral issues.