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Executive Function, Theory of Mind, and Conduct-Problem Symptoms in Middle Childhood

Studies show relations between executive function (EF), Theory of Mind (ToM), and conduct-problem (CP) symptoms. However, many studies have involved cross-sectional data, small clinical samples, pre-school children, and/or did not consider potential mediation effects. The present study examined the...

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Autores principales: Austin, Gina, Bondü, Rebecca, Elsner, Birgit
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7144567/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32300319
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00539
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author Austin, Gina
Bondü, Rebecca
Elsner, Birgit
author_facet Austin, Gina
Bondü, Rebecca
Elsner, Birgit
author_sort Austin, Gina
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description Studies show relations between executive function (EF), Theory of Mind (ToM), and conduct-problem (CP) symptoms. However, many studies have involved cross-sectional data, small clinical samples, pre-school children, and/or did not consider potential mediation effects. The present study examined the longitudinal relations between EF, ToM abilities, and CP symptoms in a population-based sample of 1,657 children between 6 and 11 years (T1: M = 8.3 years, T2: M = 9.1 years; 51.9% girls). We assessed EF skills and ToM abilities via computerized tasks at first measurement (T1), CP symptoms were rated via parent questionnaires at T1 and approximately 1 year later (T2). Structural-equation models showed a negative relation between T1 EF and T2 CP symptoms even when controlling for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and other variables. This relation was fully mediated by T1 ToM abilities. The study shows how children’s abilities to control their thoughts and behaviors and to understand others’ mental states interact in the development of CP symptoms.
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spelling pubmed-71445672020-04-16 Executive Function, Theory of Mind, and Conduct-Problem Symptoms in Middle Childhood Austin, Gina Bondü, Rebecca Elsner, Birgit Front Psychol Psychology Studies show relations between executive function (EF), Theory of Mind (ToM), and conduct-problem (CP) symptoms. However, many studies have involved cross-sectional data, small clinical samples, pre-school children, and/or did not consider potential mediation effects. The present study examined the longitudinal relations between EF, ToM abilities, and CP symptoms in a population-based sample of 1,657 children between 6 and 11 years (T1: M = 8.3 years, T2: M = 9.1 years; 51.9% girls). We assessed EF skills and ToM abilities via computerized tasks at first measurement (T1), CP symptoms were rated via parent questionnaires at T1 and approximately 1 year later (T2). Structural-equation models showed a negative relation between T1 EF and T2 CP symptoms even when controlling for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and other variables. This relation was fully mediated by T1 ToM abilities. The study shows how children’s abilities to control their thoughts and behaviors and to understand others’ mental states interact in the development of CP symptoms. Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-04-02 /pmc/articles/PMC7144567/ /pubmed/32300319 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00539 Text en Copyright © 2020 Austin, Bondü and Elsner. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
spellingShingle Psychology
Austin, Gina
Bondü, Rebecca
Elsner, Birgit
Executive Function, Theory of Mind, and Conduct-Problem Symptoms in Middle Childhood
title Executive Function, Theory of Mind, and Conduct-Problem Symptoms in Middle Childhood
title_full Executive Function, Theory of Mind, and Conduct-Problem Symptoms in Middle Childhood
title_fullStr Executive Function, Theory of Mind, and Conduct-Problem Symptoms in Middle Childhood
title_full_unstemmed Executive Function, Theory of Mind, and Conduct-Problem Symptoms in Middle Childhood
title_short Executive Function, Theory of Mind, and Conduct-Problem Symptoms in Middle Childhood
title_sort executive function, theory of mind, and conduct-problem symptoms in middle childhood
topic Psychology
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7144567/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32300319
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00539
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