Parental executive function as a predictor of parenting practices and children's executive function

Abstract

AbstractThe family context has been identified as an important predictor of the development of children's executive function (EF). An emerging line of research demonstrates that parents' own EF is linked to their caregiving behaviours and their children's EF. However, researchers have yet to explore the extent to which parental EF is related to specific caregiving practices in the home that may be supportive of children's EF. In this study, we examined the extent to which parental EF is associated with children's EF and explored the role of general parenting practices as well as EF‐specific parenting activities in this relation using a sample of 197 preschoolers (50.3% male and 84.3% Caucasian) and their parents in the United States. Multivariate regressions indicated that parental EF was related to children's EF above and beyond general parenting and EF‐specific practices (β = .22, p = .003, CI [0.07, 0.36]). Additionally, a significant indirect relation emerged between parental EF and children's EF through EF‐specific activities (β = .04, CI [0.01, 0.10]). The potential importance of the family context for EF development and study implications are discussed.Highlights The purpose was to examine the associations among parent's EF, children's EF, and general parenting and EF‐ specific practices. Parent's engagement in EF‐specific activities mediated the relation between parental EF and children's EF Parent's own EF skills as well their engagement in EF‐specific activities may promote the development of children's EF.