Work

Longitudinal Antecedents of Executive Function in Preschoolers

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Despite an extensive history underscoring the role of social processes and child contributions to the development of executive functions (C. Lewis & J. Carpendale, 2009; L. S. Vygotsky, 1987), research on these relations is sparse. To address this gap, 68 mother-child dyads were examined to determine whether maternal attention-directing behaviors (attention maintaining, attention redirection) and toddlers' temperament predicted executive processes during preschool (mean age = 4.5 years, SD = 0.46)-delay and conflict inhibition. Maternal attention maintaining was associated with high levels of conflict inhibition for inhibited and exuberant children, whereas attention redirection was associated with low levels of delay and conflict inhibition for inhibited children. Therefore, maternal attention-directing behaviors may enhance the development of executive functions but only for children with inhibited and exuberant temperaments.

Source: Child Development

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01756.x

Authors: Anne Conway, Cynthia A Stifter

Institutions: Columbia University, Pennsylvania State University

Language: English

Topic: Child and Animal Learning Development

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Mental Health

Awards: Training in Early Childhood Mental Health Research, EMOTION REGULATION AND EARLY BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS, G986033300