Self‐regulation in preschool: Are executive function and effortful control overlapping constructs?

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.

A Comprehensive Neuropsychological Study of Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Its Relationship with Psychosocial Functioning: A Biopsychosocial Approach

“…For example, the present measures for current reasoning ability (Raven's Progressive Matrices) is the traditional measure for Spearman's 'fluid intelligence', with some recent data suggesting that this instrument has the potential to tap into working memory as well [71,72]. Similarly, the present operationalized executive functioning domains could also lack specificity [73]. This lack of specificity is intimately linked to existing neuropsychological batteries that have the potential to dent the generalization of the present data.…”

A Comprehensive Neuropsychological Study of Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Its Relationship with Psychosocial Functioning: A Biopsychosocial Approach

“…For example, the present measures for current reasoning ability (Raven’s Progressive Matrices) is the traditional measure for Spearman’s ‘fluid intelligence’, with some recent data suggesting that this instrument has the potential to tap into working memory as well [ 77 , 78 ]. Similarly, the present operationalized executive functioning domains could also lack specificity [ 79 ]. This lack of specificity is intimately linked to existing neuropsychological batteries that have the potential to disallow the generalization of data.…”

Among underserved children, behavioral self-regulation most consistently predicts early elementary teachers’ ratings of overall social–emotional learning

“…Here, we conceptualize behavioral self-regulation as applying multiple cognitive processes to regulate one's gross motor behavior or "EF in context." Some propose that, together with the temperament construct of effortful control, EF falls under the larger umbrella of self-regulation (Bailey and Jones, 2019;Schmidt et al, 2022). In this study, we define behavioral self-regulation as multiple EFs Cameron, 2012;McClelland et al, 2014).…”

“…Behavioral self-regulation is implicated in multiple domains of SEL, including self-management and responsible decision-making. Behavioral self-regulation is more complex than self-control or working memory as isolated skills, and requires children to remember information and switch their attention and responses, along with inhibiting a strong inclination (Schmidt et al, 2022). These processes indicate attentional skills and the ability to keep track of information and then apply it to one's behavior.…”