Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and Speed of Performance

Abstract

In college students, self-reports of high SCT levels do not suggest actual slow performance on cognitive and academic tasks.

Differential impact of trait sluggish cognitive tempo and ADHD inattention in early childhood on adolescent functioning

“…The link between ADHD-IN and poorer math achievement may be due to increased careless errors, especially in the face of possible working memory deficits (Antonini et al, 2016). Similarly, we found ADHD-IN but not SCT to be uniquely associated with slower processing speed, a finding that echoes some (Bauermeister et al, 2012; Wood et al, 2017) but not all (Jacobson et al, 2018; Tamm et al, 2018; Willcutt et al, 2014) previous cross-sectional research. In any event, SCT has not been consistently linked to slower processing speed, which raises the issue of what precisely is the “sluggish cognitive” nature of SCT.…”

“…We also expected trait SCT in early childhood to be unassociated with or to predict lower externalizing behaviors in adolescence Carlson & Mann, 2002;Marshall et al, 2014). Given mixed findings in previous research, we tentatively hypothesized that trait SCT would uniquely predict lower reading and mathematics achievement scores, but would not uniquely predict processing speed or working memory test scores (Bauermeister et al, 2012;Hartman et al, 2004;Tamm et al, 2016;Willcutt et al, 2014;Wood et al, 2017). We expected trait ADHD-IN in early childhood to uniquely predict greater externalizing behaviors and academic and social difficulties, as well as lower achievement and neuropsychological test scores in adolescence (Bauermeister et al, 2012;Bernad et al, 2016;Willcutt et al, 2014).…”

“…When SCT and ADHD-IN have been considered simultaneously, SCT is uniquely associated with poorer sustained attention, whereas ADHD-IN is uniquely associated with poorer working memory performance (Bauermeister et al, 2012;Tamm, Brenner, Bamberger, & Becker, 2018;W ahlstedt & Bohlin, 2010;Willcutt et al, 2014). In some studies, both SCT and ADHD-IN are associated with slower processing speed (Tamm et al, 2018;Willcutt et al, 2014), whereas others have found that SCT is unassociated with processing speed above and beyond ADHD-IN symptoms (Bauermeister et al, 2012;Wood, Potts, Lewandowski, & Lovett, 2017). Additional studies are needed to evaluate whether SCT is associated with neuropsychological test performance and processing speed specifically.…”

Sluggish cognitive tempo in children and adolescents with higher functioning autism spectrum disorders: Social impairments and internalizing symptoms

“…However, results regarding slow processing speed in individuals with SCT symptoms are mixed. Recently, Wood, Potts, Lewandowski and Lovett () found no significant difference between college students (age range 27–46) with high versus low levels of self‐rated SCT on timed tasks. Academic functioning deficits were reported in SCT after symptoms of ADHD‐I and/or ADHD‐HI were statistically controlled (Bauermeister, ; Becker, Leopold et al ., ; Lee et al ., ; Servera et al ., ).…”

Sluggish cognitive tempo and impairment: The role of lifestyle factors

“…SCT behaviors also appear to be present across the lifespan, with child (Barkley, 2013) and adult (Barkley, 2012a) samples reporting elevated levels of SCT behaviors. College students endorse substantially higher rates of elevated SCT behaviors than the general population (12–13%; Flannery, Becker, & Luebbe, 2016; Wood, Potts, Lewandowski, & Lovett, 2017). These estimates are based upon Barkley's (2011a) suggested clinically significant cutoff of 5 or more SCT behaviors occurring “often” or “very often.” Preliminary evidence suggests that while SCT behaviors are more related to the environmental demands (i.e., state) for preschool‐aged children (Burns, Becker, Geiser, Leopold, & Willcutt, 2019), several studies with children suggest that from kindergarten through elementary school, SCT behaviors appear consistent over time (i.e., trait; Becker et al, 2015; Burns et al, 2019; Preszler et al, 2019).…”