Concurrent and 2-Year Longitudinal Relations between Executive Function and the Behavior of 1st and 2nd Grade Children

Nathaniel R. Riggs, Clancy B. Blair, Mark T. Greenberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Concurrent and 2-year longitudinal relations were investigated between two indicators of children's (n = 60; mean age = 7 years 11 months) executive function, inhibitory control and sequencing ability, and behavior problem symptomatology. Dependent measures were parent and teacher reported internalizing and externalizing behavior. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses demonstrated few significant concurrent associations between either inhibitory control or sequencing ability, and behavior problem symptoms. In contrast, baseline inhibitory control predicted decreased teacher reported externalizing, and parent reported externalizing and internalizing behavior problems over a 2-year period. Baseline sequencing ability also predicted decreased teacher reported externalizing and parent reported internalizing behavior over this same time period. Results suggest that some aspects of executive function in early elementary grade-school children may be more strongly associated with change in behavior over time than concurrent behavior. Implications of these findings for the prevention of behavior problems are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)267-276
Number of pages10
JournalChild Neuropsychology
Volume9
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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