Components and developmental differences of executive functioning for school-aged children

Dev Neuropsychol. 2011;36(3):319-37. doi: 10.1080/87565641.2010.549979.

Abstract

This study examined the developmental differences, components, and underlying factor structure of executive functioning (EF) in school-aged children by utilizing subtests from Test of Everyday Attention for Children and some additional EF tests. The developmental differences identified across age groups between 7 to 14 years for a sample of 185 children support a multistage interpretation of EF development. Structural equation modeling was used to test models with three first-order EF components which included shifting, working memory/updating, and inhibition. Results indicated that the first-order full, three-factor model was the best model among all the alternative first-order and second-order models.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Attention / physiology
  • Child
  • Child Development / physiology*
  • Executive Function / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intelligence
  • Intelligence Tests
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Sex Characteristics