Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 13, 2025
08:09
Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
11.7K
Executive Functioning and Emotion Regulation in Children with and without ADHD
Nicole B Groves1, Erica L Wells2, Elia F Soto1
1Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA.
Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
|November 11, 2021
Summary
Difficulties with emotion regulation in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are linked to executive functioning, particularly working memory. Improving working memory may enhance emotion regulation and reduce ADHD symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Emotion dysregulation is prevalent in youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), often leading to greater functional impairment than ADHD symptoms alone.
- Executive functioning deficits, including working memory, inhibitory control, and set shifting, are common in ADHD and associated with emotion regulation difficulties.
- Existing ADHD treatments may not adequately address emotion regulation due to a lack of focus on underlying executive function deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simultaneously assess the unique contributions of core executive functions (working memory, inhibitory control, set shifting) to emotion dysregulation in children.
- To investigate the relationship between executive functions, ADHD symptoms, and emotion regulation in a diverse pediatric sample.
- To explore potential indirect pathways through which executive functions influence emotion regulation in the context of ADHD.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 151 children aged 8-13 years, with and without ADHD and comorbidities, underwent assessment using a battery of executive functioning tasks.
- Teacher-reported ADHD symptoms and parent-reported emotion regulation were collected.
- A bias-corrected, bootstrapped conditional effects path model was employed to analyze the relationships between variables.
Main Results:
- Enhanced working memory was associated with better emotion regulation and fewer ADHD symptoms.
- ADHD symptoms independently predicted emotion dysregulation.
- Working memory demonstrated indirect effects on emotion regulation via inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, with findings robust to sensitivity analyses.
Conclusions:
- Working memory plays a crucial role in children's emotion regulation, independent of inhibitory control and set shifting.
- The relationship between working memory and ADHD symptoms is important for understanding emotion regulation challenges in this population.
- Findings suggest that interventions targeting working memory may be beneficial for improving emotion regulation in children with ADHD.
More Related Videos
10:02Event Related Potentials ERPs and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD
Published on: March 12, 2020
16.0K
05:48The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
Published on: June 12, 2020
5.9K
Related Concept Videos
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
424
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
424
01:30Information Processing Approach
212
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
212
01:25Self-Regulation
25
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
25
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
189
Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Primary Temperament Types
189
01:29The Influence of Cognition on Affect
18
Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be...
18
01:30Oppositional Defiant Disorder
195
A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, defiant behavior, or vindictiveness characterizes Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Symptoms must occur over at least six months, involve interactions with individuals beyond siblings, and meet specific diagnostic criteria to be clinically significant. The disorder affects emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior, often manifesting early in life and influencing long-term development and functioning.
Diagnostic Criteria and...
Diagnostic Criteria and...
195