The Functional Relationship between Cumulative Family Risk and Preschooler&#x02019;s Problem Behaviors: The Cognitive Mechanism of Executive Function

Wang Wenhui; Xing Shufen; Bai Rong; Wang Guoxin

doi:10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240126

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Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2024, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (1) : 220-228. DOI: 10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240126

Research on Social Psychological Service in the New Era

The Functional Relationship between Cumulative Family Risk and Preschooler’s Problem Behaviors: The Cognitive Mechanism of Executive Function

Wang Wenhui, Xing Shufen, Bai Rong, Wang Guoxin

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Abstract

Family risks are considered as important antecedents of problem behaviors. These risks usually emerge together and influence problem behaviors in preschool children with a cumulative way. Compared with a single family risk, cumulative family risks have much stronger effect on problem behaviors. However, the pattern of the relationship conforming to the linear model or the nonlinear model remains to be examined. Furthermore, little is known about the potential mechanism between cumulative family risks and problem behaviors. Executive function refers to a series of advanced cognitive processes including inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, which is vulnerable to family risks and closely related to problem behaviors. What’s more, there are significant gender differences in executive function and problem behaviors. Therefore, the current study examined the relationship between cumulative family risks and problem behaviors. More importantly, the cognitive mechanism of executive function and gender differences in above relationships were further tested.
One hundred and seventy-seven preschoolers (108 boys, M_age = 5.19 years old) and their mothers were recruited in a kindergarten from Hebei Province. Cumulative family risks were measured by 6 variable indicators of family structure, socioeconomic status, and parenting behavior. Then the cumulative risk index was calculated by summing these risks up through the way suggested by previous studies. Problem behaviors were measured by the strength and difficulty questionnaire (SDQ). Meanwhile, three tasks in the NIH Toolbox Application (i.e., the flanker inhibitory control attention test, the dimensional change card sort test, and the list sorting working memory test) were used to measure children’s executive function. The results showed that: (1) Cumulative family risk was positively associated with externalizing behaviors in boys and girls, and the pattern was in line with the linear mode; (2) The pattern of relations between Cumulative family risk and boy’s internalizing behaviors conformed to the linear model, whereas the pattern of relations in girls conformed to the nonlinear model; (3) Children’s executive function mediated the associations between cumulative family risk and problem behaviors, and this mediating effect was cross-gender consistent. These results indicated that cumulative family risk has similar effects on externalizing behaviors among boys and girls, but has a greater impact on internalizing behaviors in girls than boys. Additionally, executive function served as a mediator between cumulative family risk and problem behaviors.
Under the Cumulative Risk Model, this study clarified the special relationship patterns and underlying mechanisms of the associations between cumulative family risk and preschoolers’ problem behaviors, which provided valuable guidance for effective prevention and interventions of preschooler’s problem behaviors. Future prevention and intervention programs should pay more attention to preschool girls who are exposed to multiple risk factors. Furthermore, according to the findings, improving preschool children’s executive function may help to reduce both preschool boys’ and girl’s problem behaviors.

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cumulative family risk / executive function / internalizing problems / externalizing problems

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Wang Wenhui, Xing Shufen, Bai Rong, Wang Guoxin. The Functional Relationship between Cumulative Family Risk and Preschooler’s Problem Behaviors: The Cognitive Mechanism of Executive Function[J]. Journal of Psychological Science. 2024, 47(1): 220-228 https://doi.org/10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240126

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