Neighbourhood chaos moderates the association of socioeconomic status and child executive functioning

Abstract

Although broad associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and child executive functions (EFs) are well established, contextual factors that may matter for effects of SES on EF are not fully understood. This study used a bioecological approach to examine factors that may moderate SES–EF relations. A socioeconomically diverse sample of children ages 4.5–5.5 completed working memory and go/no‐go tasks. Parents reported on well‐being, household chaos, and neighbourhood chaos. Higher SES related to better working memory performance and higher accuracy on go trials, but neighbourhood chaos moderated these associations. Specifically, for higher neighbourhood chaos, the relations between SES and working memory and go accuracy (indexing general vigilance) were especially pronounced, such that the best EF performance was observed in children in high‐SES households who experienced higher neighbourhood chaos. Results highlight the relevance of neighbourhood quality for underlying processes of EF development, particularly in the context of high SES. Further, findings suggest the importance of teasing apart specific contextual factors that matter for child cognitive functioning. Highlights Children ages 4.5‐5.5 years completed working memory and go/no‐go tasks to assess executive function. Parents reported on household socioeconomic status, well‐being, household chaos and neighborhood chaos. In more chaotic neighbourhoods, SES was significantly related to child executive functions such that children with both high‐SES and high‐neighbourhood chaos showed better executive function performance. Results highlight the importance of considering the interplay of contextual factors and socio‐economic status in early childhood executive function development.

Changing the conversation: A culturally responsive perspective on executive functions, minoritized children and their families

“…For children aged 9–14 in the study, results suggested that high parent involvement was associated with better executive function skills, regardless of socio‐economic status. Additionally, household chaos, defined by confusion, ambient noise, clutter around the home, and neighbourhood characteristics (Matheny, Wachs, Ludwig, & Phillips, 1995; St. John & Tarullo, 2020), has been associated with executive function, through parenting behaviours (e.g., Vernon‐Feagans, Willoughby, & Garrett‐Peters, 2016). That is, a chaotic home—one in which there is more happening at a given time, less adherence to a consistent daily schedule, and a lack of routines—often predicted parenting practices that negatively impacted behaviour regulation and executive functions.…”

A Meta-Analysis of Stressors from the Total Environment Associated with Children’s General Cognitive Ability

“…Exposure to certain chemicals during critical windows of development causes neurotoxicity through alterations in brain structure and function and may lead to diminished cognitive development [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Exposures to social stressors, particularly those related to socioeconomics, have been shown to affect childhood cognitive ability in a variety of cohorts [ 7 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Activities, such as diet and sleep patterns, have been shown to be correlated to cognitive outcomes in children [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ].…”

“…To date, this review is the most comprehensive analysis of the interactions of chemical and non-chemical stressors from the total environment on childhood cognitive development. Eleven studies published since 2016 have used Ruiz et al [ 48 ] as a springboard to examine the effects of specific stressors such as neighborhood chaos, industrial pollution, environmental contaminants, socioeconomic status, and poverty on childhood cognitive development [ 6 , 7 , 28 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ]. Recent publications related to childhood cognitive development that do not cite Ruiz et al [ 48 ] focus on the effects of postnatal care, maternal mental health, and physical brain characteristics [ 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 ].…”

Executive function in context

“…St. John and Tarullo () considered EF within the neighbourhood context among 4.5‐ to 5.5‐year‐old children. As expected, SES was associated with EF performance, but neighbourhood chaos moderated these associations.…”