Child executive function and future externalizing and internalizing problems: A meta-analysis of prospective longitudinal studies

Yingkai Yang; Grant S Shields; Yaoyao Zhang; Huimin Wu; Hong Chen; Adrienne L Romer

doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102194

Child executive function and future externalizing and internalizing problems: A meta-analysis of prospective longitudinal studies

Clin Psychol Rev. 2022 Nov:97:102194. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102194. Epub 2022 Aug 8.

Authors

Yingkai Yang¹, Grant S Shields², Yaoyao Zhang³, Huimin Wu³, Hong Chen⁴, Adrienne L Romer⁵

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: yangyk0725@swu.edu.cn.
² Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA.
³ The Lab of Mental Health and Social Adaptation, Faculty of Psychology, Research Center of Mental Health Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
⁴ Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: chenhg@swu.edu.cn.
⁵ Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.; Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.

PMID: 35964337
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102194

Abstract

To determine the association between executive function and later externalizing and internalizing problems, we conducted a meta-analysis of 167 studies (1098 effect sizes, total N = 66,119) that explored the longitudinal associations between executive functions in children and subsequent externalizing and internalizing problems. The results indicated that greater child executive function was prospectively associated with fewer attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, fewer conduct problems, fewer oppositional defiant disorder symptoms, less substance use, fewer broad externalizing problems, fewer depression symptoms, and fewer broad internalizing problems, but not with subsequent anxiety symptoms. Moderator analyses revealed that the sample type moderated the associations of executive function with both ADHD symptoms and conduct problems. Age of assessment moderated the association with broad externalizing problems, and executive function context moderated associations with both substance use and broad internalizing problems. These findings suggest that executive function in children prospectively predicts numerous externalizing and internalizing behaviors, suggesting that executive function may be an important target for psychopathology prevention programs and interventions.

Keywords: Child executive function; Externalizing behaviors; Internalizing behaviors; Meta-analysis; Prospective associations.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / diagnosis
Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders
Child
Executive Function*
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Prospective Studies