AI Article Synopsis

  • Executive function (EF) and effortful control (EC) are closely related concepts that both involve self-regulation but stem from different research backgrounds—EF from neurocognitive studies and EC from temperament research.
  • A study involving 88 preschool-aged children aimed to analyze the relationship between EF and EC by using specific assessments for each construct, including parent questionnaires on their children's behavior.
  • Results indicated significant correlations between EF and EC, leading to the conclusion that these two constructs are highly similar and suggest a unified model of self-regulation in preschoolers.

Article Abstract

The concepts of executive function (EF) and effortful control (EC) are strikingly similar. EF originate from neurocognitive research and are described as an accumulation of cognitive processes that serve the goal-oriented self-regulation (SR) 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, to activate a subdominant response, to proceed in a planned manner and to 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 = .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 (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 one-factor confirmatory model fitted the data very well and indicated that EF and EC are indeed overlapping and highly similar constructs. Therefore, our results show that measures of EC and EF have substantial overlap in preschoolers and suggest an integrated model of self-regulation.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/desc.13272DOI Listing

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