Is there sufficient evidence for the association between executive dysfunction and academic performance in adolescents with major depressive disorder?: a systematic review

Abstract

Adult depression, undoubtedly associated with executive dysfunction, leads to poor work performance. As depression in adolescents may have a negative impact on school performance, we aimed to analyse the possible relationship between selected executive deficits and academic performance. Executive dysfunctions may have more severe consequences on school performance at high school, as this stage of education requires engagement in long-term goals, whether writing an essay or preparing for an exam. Whilst inhibitory control is necessary at all educational stages, it seems that planning and decision-making play a greater role in high school than in primary school. We reviewed studies on executive functions conducted in adolescents diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) to establish the possible relationship between executive processes and school performance in depressed adolescents. The search identified 5 studies addressing planning and decision-making in adolescents with MDD, but none of those studies reported educational achievement. We identified a considerable gap in the research on the functional impact of depression in adolescents. Identifying the link between specific executive deficits and school performance could guide tailored therapeutic interventions.

Research on the impact of the socio-educational environment on the academic performance of college students: the mediating role of study motivation

“…For instance, Smith et al (2023) conducted a study with 302 adolescent participants and found that teenagers with attention deficit or hyperactivity disorders generally exhibit lower levels of learning motivation, which in turn affects their academic performance. The internal factors such as sleep (Boraita et al, 2023;Chan et al, 2023;Hamvai et al, 2023), depression (Song et al, 2023;Urbanska-Grosz et al, 2023), and disordered social media use (Almarzouki et al, 2022;Sserunkuuma et al, 2023) also exert varying degrees of influence on academic performance. In this study, we primarily investigate the internal factors pertaining to learning state, encompassing self-efficacy and learning behavior.…”

Family Functioning, Maternal Depression, and Adolescent Cognitive Flexibility and Its Associations with Adolescent Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The role of neurocognitive functioning is pivotal in understanding the emergence of suicidal behaviour among young people affected by mood disorders [52]. Depressed teens often demonstrate lowered executive functioning [53][54][55][56][57]. Cognitive models of depression propose that challenges in regulating mood might stem exactly from difficulties in executive functions, particularly inhibition and flexibility [58][59][60][61][62].…”

Advances and New Perspectives in Higher Education Quality

“…For instance, Smith et al (2023) conducted a study with 302 adolescent participants and found that teenagers with attention deficit or hyperactivity disorders generally exhibit lower levels of learning motivation, which in turn affects their academic performance. The internal factors such as sleep (Boraita et al, 2023;Hamvai et al, 2023), depression (Song et al, 2023;Urbanska-Grosz et al, 2023), and disordered social media use (Almarzouki et al, 2022;Sserunkuuma et al, 2023) also exert varying degrees of influence on academic performance. In this study, we primarily investigate the internal factors pertaining to learning state, encompassing self-efficacy and learning behavior.…”