Self-Regulation in Preschool: Are Executive Function and Effortful Control Overlapping Constructs?

The concepts of executive function (EF) and effortful control (EC) are strikingly similar. EF originates from neurocognitive research and is described as an accumulation of cognitive processes that serve the goal-oriented self-regulation of an individual. EC originates from temperament research and is defined as the efficiency of executive attention, including the ability to inhibit a dominant response, activate a subdominant response, proceed in a planned manner, and recognize conflicts or errors. The aim of this article was to examine the association between the constructs of EF and EC at the preschool age. Eighty-eight children (49 female; M-age = 3.93 years, SD = 0.78) were tested with a computerized battery designed to assess EF at 3-6 years of age (EF Touch). Children's parents completed questionnaires assessing EF impairments (BRIEF-P) and EC (children's behavior questionnaire [CBQ]). Associations between the constructs and their conceptual overlap were analyzed using correlations and confirmatory factor analyses. We found significant correlations between EF and EC measures. A two-factor confirmatory model fitted the data better than a one-factor model of self-regulation. Therefore, our results show that measures of EC and EF have substantial overlap but are separable.