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Executive Functions in Preschool Children with Externalizing Behavior Problems: A Meta-Analysis

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Abstract

Deficits in executive functions (EF) have been found in school-age children and adolescents with externalizing behavior disorders. Present meta-analysis was carried out to determine whether these EF impairments can also be found in preschool children with externalizing behavior problems. Twenty-two studies were included with a total of 4021 children. Four separate meta-analyses were conducted, concerning overall EF, working memory, inhibition and cognitive flexibility. A medium correlation effect size was obtained for overall EF (ESzr = 0.22) and for inhibition (0.24), whereas a small effect size was found for working memory (0.17) and for cognitive flexibility (0.13). Moderator analyses revealed a stronger effect for older preschoolers compared to younger preschoolers, and for children from referred samples compared to community samples. These results show that EF, especially inhibition, is related to externalizing behavior problems already in preschool years.

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  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80140, 3508 TC, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Kim Schoemaker, Maja Deković & Walter Matthys

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Kim Schoemaker & Walter Matthys

  3. Department of Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Hanna Mulder

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  1. Kim Schoemaker
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  2. Hanna Mulder
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Correspondence to Kim Schoemaker.

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First submission to Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology: 25th of August 2011

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Schoemaker, K., Mulder, H., Deković, M. et al. Executive Functions in Preschool Children with Externalizing Behavior Problems: A Meta-Analysis. J Abnorm Child Psychol 41, 457–471 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-012-9684-x

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