The relationship between executive functioning and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in young children: A cross-lagged study

Abstract

Early childhood is a critical period for cognitive development and the emergence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Therefore, many researchers have explored the relationship between executive function and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in young children. However, the findings have been inconsistent. This study used a cross-lagged survey to clarify the interaction between executive function and ADHD in early childhood as well as explore the trends of the same. Data were collected using questionnaires distributed to 376 parents of children aged 4–6 years in October 2018 (Time 1) and June 2019 (Time 2), with components including the Child Executive Functioning Scale (Parent Version) and Child Difficulty and Strengths Scale (Parent Version), and the mean age of the children surveyed at Time 1 was 58.96 ± 11.94 months. Results indicate that executive function and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were stable, with significant positive and secondary positive correlations between executive function and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The cross-lagged regression analysis showed that the inhibition of executive function components at Time 1 predicted the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at Time 2. Finally, the cross-lagged regression analysis showed that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at Time 1 significantly predicted the inhibition at Time 2. There was a strong relationship between inhibition and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the sample, with some reciprocal causality. The findings indicate the urgent need for early screening and intervention in cognitive and behavioral disorders.