Abstract
ObjectiveExecutive function, impulsivity, and intelligence are correlated markers of cognitive resource that predict health-related behaviours. It is unknown whether executive function and impulsivity are unique predictors of these behaviours after accounting for intelligence.MethodsData from 6069 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children were analysed to investigate whether components of executive function (selective attention, attentional control, working memory, and response inhibition) and impulsivity (parent-rated) measured between ages 8 and 10, predicted having ever drunk alcohol, having ever smoked, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and overweight at age 13, after accounting for intelligence at age 8 and childhood socioeconomic characteristics.ResultsHigher intelligence predicted having drunk alcohol, not smoking, greater fruit and vegetable consumption, and not being overweight. After accounting for intelligence, impulsivity predicted alcohol use (odds ratio = 1.10; 99% confidence interval = 1.02, 1.19) and smoking (1.22; 1.11, 1.34). Working memory predicted not being overweight (0.90; 0.81, 0.99).ConclusionsAfter accounting for intelligence, executive function predicts overweight status but not health-related behaviours in early adolescence, whilst impulsivity predicts the onset of alcohol and cigarette use, all with small effects. This suggests overlap between executive function and intelligence as predictors of health behaviour in this cohort, with trait impulsivity accounting for additional variance.
Highlights
Individual differences in cognitive resource, an umbrella term referring to general cognitive ability as well as more specific abilities such as executive functioning and impulse control, are a potential contributor to health-related behaviours and health outcomes
Data from 6069 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children were analysed to investigate whether components of executive function and impulsivity measured between ages 8 and 10, predicted having ever drunk alcohol, having ever smoked, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and overweight at age 13, after accounting for intelligence at age 8 and childhood socioeconomic characteristics
After accounting for intelligence, executive function predicts overweight status but not health-related behaviours in early adolescence, whilst impulsivity predicts the onset of alcohol and cigarette use, all with small effects
Summary
Individual differences in cognitive resource, an umbrella term referring to general cognitive ability (intelligence) as well as more specific abilities such as executive functioning and impulse control, are a potential contributor to health-related behaviours and health outcomes. Despite an abundance of research examining links between distinct aspects of cognitive resource and health behaviours, there have been limited studies with representative samples that include multiple aspects of cognitive resource to account for their shared variance. It is not known which aspects of cognitive resource are most relevant for understanding health behaviours. An influential framework of executive function specifies three such processes: response inhibition, updating working memory, and shifting between mental sets [1] Abilities such as attentional control and planning are regarded as aspects of executive function in some taxonomies, though these higher order abilities are thought to be influenced by the three ‘pure’ executive processes [2, 3]
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