Longitudinal predictions between executive function and general and specific psychiatric problems in school-age children

Bibliographic Data

ID9785892
AuthorsGai Zhao (Beijing Normal University, corresponding author), Haibo Zhang (0000-0002-8194-2133, Beijing Normal University), Mingming Hu (0000-0002-6626-9657, Beijing Normal University), Daoyang Wang (0000-0002-5687-5880), Yanpei Wang (0000-0001-8135-2881, Beijing Normal University), Zhiying Pan (0000-0001-6143-6287, Beijing Normal University), Yao Wang (0000-0002-7024-4233, Beijing Normal University), Sha Tao (0000-0002-0928-0681, Beijing Normal University)
Year2023
Volume59
Issue11
Pages2050-2064
Publication date2023-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDevelopmental Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0012-1649 • E-ISSN: 1939-0599
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/dev0001625
PMID37768598
OpenAlexW4387114750
LanguageEN
Citations received2

This study examined the longitudinal associations of various executive function components with subsequent psychiatric problems in Chinese school-age children. Data from 1,639 children (44.36% girls) ages 6-13 years were drawn from the Children School Functions and Brain Development project. Executive function components were assessed by the cancellation test, the Corsi test, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Psychiatric problems were determined by parent report. All assessments were administered twice, separated by a 1-year interval. Cross-lagged panel models showed that cognitive flexibility and general psychiatric problems (general p ) mutually predicted each other. Worse inhibitory control at baseline significantly predicted more externalizing problems 1 year later, regardless of age, while externalizing problems did not significantly predict inhibitory control 1 year later. Working memory at baseline did not significantly predict internalizing problems and vice versa. These findings demonstrate that better inhibitory control may help to prevent or reduce externalizing problems in Chinese school-age children and that higher cognitive flexibility may help to mitigate general psychiatric problems. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Cognition · Cognitive development · Cognitive flexibility · Developmental psychology · Executive functions · Flexibility (engineering · MEDLINE · Psychiatry · PsycINFO · Test (biology · Wisconsin Card Sorting Test · Working memory · Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder · Clinical Psychology · Psychology

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