Regulatory capacities in childhood: Current knowledge and assessment methods

Abstract

This review considers recent studies of regulatory capacities in the first years of life. Children's self-regulation has been the subject of research within different fields. Different terms are used in differ-ent areas to describe self-regulatory constructs, such as effortful control and executive function, the Rus-sian terrninology also varies considerably. The main methods used for assessing children's regulatory ca-pacities are parent questionnaires, psychophysiological measures and behavioral tasks; each has a number of strengths and weaknesses. Research has shown that regulatory capacities in childhood predict im-portant life outcomes such as conscience, social competence, empathy, physical and mental health, af-fluence and low aggressiveness in later life. Low self-regulation is related to higher levels of behavioral and emotional problems in adulthood as well as substance dependence and criminal offending outcomes.