The development of adaptive risk taking and the role of executive functions in a large sample of school-age boys and girls

Trends Neurosci Educ. 2019 Dec:17:100120. doi: 10.1016/j.tine.2019.100120. Epub 2019 Oct 14.

Abstract

Background: The Balloon Analogue Risk Task for Children (BART-C) demands self-regulation of emotion that requires risk-tolerance and adaptive risk-taking to make good decisions under stress (hot cognition).

Methods: BART-C measures of adaptive risk-taking in 5,409 children K-8th grade were analyzed for improvements by grade, for relationships to executive functioning (EF) and for associations with school characteristics and academic achievement.

Findings: BART-C improved across grades. Boys showed significantly greater Recklessness, particularly in middle school. EF was a partial mediator between grade and Variability and Recklessness. Better BART-C Total score and less Recklessness were related to lower free-or-reduced-school-lunch percentage and better math and reading proficiency of children's schools.

Conclusions: BART-C is a potential "hot-cognition" measure of self-regulation and adaptive risk-taking for children.

Keywords: Adaptive risk-taking; Balloon analogue risk task (BART); Bubblegum analogue risk task for children (BART-C); Cognitive development; Executive function; Self-regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cognition
  • Decision Making*
  • Executive Function*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Risk-Taking
  • Schools
  • Self-Control / psychology