Emotional, Behavioural and Executive Functioning Problems in Children in Residential Care.

Juan Manuel Moreno-Manso,Mónica Guerrero-Molina,Eloísa Guerrero-Barona,María Elena García-Baamonde,María José Godoy-Merino,Natalia Bueso-Izquierdo

doi:10.3390/ijerph17103596

Abstract

This research analyses the emotional and behavioural problems, as well as the problems in the executive functions, of children in residential care under protective measures, between 8 and 12 years of age. We analyse the relationship between the problems with their executive functions and their emotional and behavioural problems, as well as the predictive value of the executive functions for the said emotional and behavioural problems. The instruments used were as follows: five digits test (FDT), behavioural assessment of the dysexecutive syndrome in children (BADS-C) and the system of evaluation for children and adolescents (SENA). The results indicate that the children have difficulties in their executive functions, with such problems as in attention control and regulation, impulsiveness, mental rigidity, behavioural organisation and planning and resolving problems. They also have internalising and externalising problems, as well as difficulties in controlling their emotional reactions and understanding the emotions of others. It becomes evident that the difficulties in their executive functions are related to and predict their emotional and behavioural problems. The research demonstrates the need to intervene in the problems detected through the design of therapeutic programmes and interventions in the residential context.

Highlights

Children in the child protection scheme are especially vulnerable to cognitive, emotional and behavioural problems
The objectives of this study were: to analyse the emotional and behavioural problems, as well as the problems in the executive functions shown by a sample of Spanish children in residential care with protective measures; to examine the relation between the problems in the executive functions and the children’s behavioural and emotional problems; and to determine the predictive value of the executive functioning for the emotional and behavioural problems
The children in residential care have difficulties related to various components of their executive functions, such as problems with attention control and regulation; problems in controlling their behaviour and inhibiting inappropriate or ineffective behaviour patterns; difficulties adapting to new situations, different contexts or demands made to them; deficits in information processing, they process information more slowly and have to make an effort to focus their attention, they tire

Summary

Introduction

Children in the child protection scheme are especially vulnerable to cognitive, emotional and behavioural problems. Among the cognitive and emotional repercussions of the children suffering neglect, what stands out are the difficulties in the capacity for processing social information, the impulsive cognitive style, the scarce capacity for resolving problems by analysing the situation and looking for alternatives, difficulties in attention control, in regulating one’s emotions and in taking decisions, the lack of planning behaviour and anticipating consequences, the scarce tolerance of frustration, the lack of cognitive flexibility and learning difficulties [4,5,6,7]. There are several works that demonstrate the greater risk of suffering psychopathologies and behavioural problems in children who experience abuse and neglect [8,9,10]. Public Health 2020, 17, 3596; doi:10.3390/ijerph17103596 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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