Links between preschool inhibitory control and working memory and elementary school adjustment

Abstract

The development of inhibitory control (IC) and working memory (WM) in preschool is linked to a multitude of cognitive, emotional, and social outcomes, including elementary school adjustment. Furthermore, there are both cognitive and socioemotional domains of IC and it is unclear if both are related to these outcomes in the same manner. Using a family study design, the present investigation examined preschoolers' IC, WM and externalizing behavior problems, maternal depression and anxiety measured when the children were in preschool, and elementary school externalizing behaviors and child and family functioning. Families with two children between 2.5 and 5.5 years of age (n = 198; mean age = 3.88, SD = 1.04) completed online surveys and laboratory visits, as well as another online survey after the children entered elementary school. Both cognitive and emotional domains of preschool IC significantly predicted the externalizing and functioning aspects of adjustment in elementary school (but WM did not predict either). In addition, child age predicted functioning in elementary school, and maternal depression predicted externalizing in elementary school. These longitudinal results indicate that supporting both cognitive and emotional aspects of preschool IC can benefit adjustment in elementary school.