A meta-analytic approach to the association between inhibitory control and parent-reported behavioral adjustment in...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Child Psychiatry

Background:

• Impaired inhibitory control (IC) is linked to maladaptive behaviors in early childhood.
• The relationship between IC and both externalizing and internalizing behaviors requires further investigation.
• Existing research often overlooks the diverse measures and theories of IC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To meta-analytically examine the association between IC and parent-reported externalizing and internalizing behavior problems in children aged 2-8.
• To investigate if IC categorization moderates these associations, using a two-factor model of IC.

Main Methods:

• Two meta-analyses were conducted on data from 3160 children for externalizing behaviors and 1758 for internalizing behaviors.
• Parent-reported behavior problems were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).
• Studies included non-clinical populations of children aged 2-8 years.

Main Results:

• A robust, small association was found between IC and externalizing behavior problems (r = -0.11).
• No significant linear association was identified between IC and internalizing behavior problems.
• No significant moderating effects of IC categorization were revealed in either meta-analysis.

Conclusions:

• IC ability is statistically related to externalizing, but not internalizing, behavior problems in early childhood.
• These findings contribute to understanding the cognitive underpinnings of early maladaptive behavior.
• The small association raises broader questions about the role of IC in overall behavioral adjustment.