Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
08:09
Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Parent-reported infant emotion regulation and executive functions predict preschool executive function skills
Alexandra Hendry1, Karla Holmboe2
1Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford Centre for Emerging Minds Research, University of Oxford.
Developmental Psychology
|July 9, 2026
Summary
Parent-reported executive functions (EFs) in toddlers predict later outcomes. Early cognitive EF skills are linked to later cognitive skills, while regulatory EF skills predict broader outcomes from infancy.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Parental reports, using tools like the Early Executive Functions Questionnaire (EEFQ), are feasible for assessing executive function (EF) skills in infancy and toddlerhood.
- Limited knowledge exists regarding the predictive power of early parent-reported regulatory and cognitive EF aspects on later EF development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the predictive validity of early parent-reported executive functions (EFs) on later EF outcomes.
- To characterize age-related changes and stability in parent-reported EFs during infancy and toddlerhood.
- To explore dissociable developmental patterns in the regulatory and cognitive components of EFs.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal data collection of the Early Executive Functions Questionnaire (EEFQ) from 178 U.K. children at 10, 16, 24, and 30 months.
- Assessment of parent-reported EF outcomes using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool version (BRIEF-P) at 36 months.
- Statistical analysis to examine age-related changes, stability, and predictive associations between EEFQ and BRIEF-P scores.
Main Results:
- Age-related improvements were observed in EEFQ-Cognitive Executive Function scores (most rapid changes at 10-24 months).
- EEFQ-Regulation scores showed a decrease between 10 and 30 months (most rapid change at 10-16 months).
- Individual differences in both EEFQ-Cognitive Executive Function and EEFQ-Regulation demonstrated moderate 6-month stability and small but significant 20-month stability, predicting 36-month BRIEF-P scores from 10 months.
Conclusions:
- Parent-reported EFs exhibit stability across the infancy-to-preschool period.
- Early cognitive EF skills predict later cognitively focused EF outcomes, while early regulatory EF skills predict a broader range of later EF outcomes.
- Findings offer insights into distinct developmental trajectories of regulatory and cognitive aspects of early executive functions.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
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
Stella Chess...
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
01:30Information Processing Approach
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 also...
01:25Self-Regulation
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...
01:28Relationship with Parents: Attachment
Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
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.