Early communicative gestures prospectively predict language development and executive function in early childhood

Laura J. Kuhn; Michael T. Willoughby; Makeba Parramore Wilbourn; Lynne Vernon-Feagans; Clancy B. Blair

doi:10.1111/cdev.12249

Early communicative gestures prospectively predict language development and executive function in early childhood

Laura J. Kuhn, Michael T. Willoughby, Makeba Parramore Wilbourn, Lynne Vernon-Feagans, Clancy B. Blair

Applied Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Using an epidemiological sample (N = 1,117) and a prospective longitudinal design, this study tested the direct and indirect effects of preverbal and verbal communication (15 months to 3 years) on executive function (EF) at age 4 years. Results indicated that whereas gestures (15 months), as well as language (2 and 3 years), were correlated with later EF (ϕ^s ≥.44), the effect was entirely mediated through later language. In contrast, language had significant direct and indirect effects on later EF. Exploratory analyses indicated that the pattern of results was comparable for low- and not-low-income families. The results were consistent with theoretical accounts of language as a precursor of EF ability, and highlighted gesture as an early indicator of EF.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1898-1914
Number of pages	17
Journal	Child development
Volume	85
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12249
State	Published - 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Education
Developmental and Educational Psychology

Access to Document

10.1111/cdev.12249

Cite this

@article{72d0c696993a4259807c5be3b043602b,

title = "Early communicative gestures prospectively predict language development and executive function in early childhood",

abstract = "Using an epidemiological sample (N = 1,117) and a prospective longitudinal design, this study tested the direct and indirect effects of preverbal and verbal communication (15 months to 3 years) on executive function (EF) at age 4 years. Results indicated that whereas gestures (15 months), as well as language (2 and 3 years), were correlated with later EF (ϕs ≥.44), the effect was entirely mediated through later language. In contrast, language had significant direct and indirect effects on later EF. Exploratory analyses indicated that the pattern of results was comparable for low- and not-low-income families. The results were consistent with theoretical accounts of language as a precursor of EF ability, and highlighted gesture as an early indicator of EF.",

author = "Kuhn, {Laura J.} and Willoughby, {Michael T.} and Wilbourn, {Makeba Parramore} and Lynne Vernon-Feagans and Blair, {Clancy B.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2014 The Authors. Child Development {\textcopyright} 2014 Society for Research in Child Development, Inc.",

year = "2014",

doi = "10.1111/cdev.12249",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "85",

pages = "1898--1914",

journal = "Child development",

issn = "0009-3920",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Early communicative gestures prospectively predict language development and executive function in early childhood

AU - Kuhn, Laura J.

AU - Willoughby, Michael T.

AU - Wilbourn, Makeba Parramore

AU - Vernon-Feagans, Lynne

AU - Blair, Clancy B.

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Using an epidemiological sample (N = 1,117) and a prospective longitudinal design, this study tested the direct and indirect effects of preverbal and verbal communication (15 months to 3 years) on executive function (EF) at age 4 years. Results indicated that whereas gestures (15 months), as well as language (2 and 3 years), were correlated with later EF (ϕs ≥.44), the effect was entirely mediated through later language. In contrast, language had significant direct and indirect effects on later EF. Exploratory analyses indicated that the pattern of results was comparable for low- and not-low-income families. The results were consistent with theoretical accounts of language as a precursor of EF ability, and highlighted gesture as an early indicator of EF.

AB - Using an epidemiological sample (N = 1,117) and a prospective longitudinal design, this study tested the direct and indirect effects of preverbal and verbal communication (15 months to 3 years) on executive function (EF) at age 4 years. Results indicated that whereas gestures (15 months), as well as language (2 and 3 years), were correlated with later EF (ϕs ≥.44), the effect was entirely mediated through later language. In contrast, language had significant direct and indirect effects on later EF. Exploratory analyses indicated that the pattern of results was comparable for low- and not-low-income families. The results were consistent with theoretical accounts of language as a precursor of EF ability, and highlighted gesture as an early indicator of EF.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84907861492&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84907861492&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/cdev.12249

DO - 10.1111/cdev.12249

M3 - Article

C2 - 24773289

AN - SCOPUS:84907861492

SN - 0009-3920

VL - 85

SP - 1898

EP - 1914

JO - Child development

JF - Child development

IS - 5

ER -

Early communicative gestures prospectively predict language development and executive function in early childhood

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this