Examining relations between performance on non-verbal executive function and verbal self-regulation tasks in demographically-diverse populations
Date
2021
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Developmental Science
Abstract
Self-regulation is a widely studied construct, generally assumed to be cognitively supported by executive functions (EFs). There is a lack of clarity and consensus over the
roles of specific components of EFs in self-regulation. The current study examines the
relations between performance on (a) a self-regulation task (Heads, Toes, Knees, Shoulders Task) and (b) two EF tasks (Knox Cube and Beads Tasks) that measure different
components of updating: working memory and short-term memory, respectively. We
compared 107 8- to 13-year-old children (64 females) across demographically-diverse
populations in four low- and middle-income countries, including: Tanna, Vanuatu;
Keningau, Malaysia; Saltpond, Ghana; and Natal, Brazil. The communities we studied
vary in market integration/urbanicity as well as level of access, structure, and quality of
schooling. We found that performance on the visuospatial working memory task (Knox)
Cube) and the visuospatial short-term memory task (Beads) are each independently
associated with performance on the self-regulation task, even when controlling for
schooling and location effects. These effects were robust across demographically diverse populations of children in low- and middle-income countries. We conclude
This study found evidence supporting visuospatial working memory andvisuospatial short-term memory as distinct cognitive processes which each support the development of self-regulation
Description
Research Article
Keywords
cross-cultural psychology, executive functions, short-term memory