Linking Executive Functions and Math Intelligence in Preschool Children: A Meta-Analysis

Scientific Conference (2021, May 20)

Background: Executive functions (i.e., response inhibition, attention shifting, working memory updating) have shown to be related to the mathematical component of intelligence, which, in turn, is ... [more ▼]

Background: Executive functions (i.e., response inhibition, attention shifting, working memory updating) have shown to be related to the mathematical component of intelligence, which, in turn, is predictive of various competences later in life. While this relation has already been thoroughly researched in school students and adults, a comprehensive research synthesis on preschool children—a group for which the assessment of these constructs is more challenging—is still missing. Evidence on the differentiation of cognitive skills over time suggests a differential relation of the three executive functions with math intelligence in older but not in younger children. It remains unclear, however, whether and which one of the three executive functions is more closely related to math intelligence in preschool children. Further research gaps concern the measurement of both executive functions and math intelligence in preschool children, as they cannot complete reading- and writing-based questionnaires. Addressing this measurement challenge, a plethora of inventive measurements has been used to assess both cognitive skills. These measurement differences might also have an influence on the relation between executive functions and math intelligence. Objectives: With our meta-analysis, we aimed to clarify the relation between executive functions and math intelligence in preschool children. Further, we wanted to investigate the influence of different measurement methods on this relation and look into the specific links of inhibition, shifting, and updating with math intelligence more closely. Research questions: 1. To what extent are inhibition, shifting, and updating (as a composite and separately) related to math intelligence in preschool children? (Overall correlations) 2. Which sample, study, and measurement characteristics moderate this relation? (Heterogeneity and moderators) 3. How much variation in math intelligence do inhibition, shifting, and updating explain jointly? (Model testing) Methods: We examined the relation between executive functions and math intelligence for 268 effect sizes from 29 studies for a total sample of 25,510 preschool children. Specifically, we synthesized the corresponding correlations by means of three-level random-effects meta-analyses (RQ 1) and examined the study, sample, and measurement characteristics as possible moderators of this relation between EFs and math intelligence via mixed-effects modeling (RQ 2). Further, we performed meta-analytic structural equation modeling to investigate the joint and differential effects inhibition, shifting, and updating on math intelligence (RQ 3). Results: We found executive functions and math intelligence to correlate moderately in preschool children (r = .35). Investigating inhibition, shifting, and updating separately also revealed moderate average correlations to math intelligence (r = .30, r = .38 , and r = .36, respectively). While we did not find age to explain significant amounts of heterogeneity, four measurement characteristics moderated the relation between executive function and math intelligence. When considered jointly through meta-analytic structural equation modeling, the relations of inhibition, shifting, and updating to math intelligence were similar. Conclusions and Implications: By presenting evidence for a significant relation between executive functions and math intelligence also in preschool children, our findings contribute to the discussion on the differentiation of cognitive skills. They highlight the importance of considering measurement characteristics when researching executive functions and math intelligence. Further, we could not confirm that inhibition, shifting, and updating are differentially related to math intelligence. Further research is needed to clarify the impact of age on the relation between executive functions and math intelligence. [less ▲]

Implicit motives and children's salivary cortisol reactivity to an adapted version of the Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C)

in Personality and Individual Differences (2020), 162

This research addresses the interplay between two implicit motives, that are power (nPow) and affiliation (nAff), and the cortisol reactivity (CR) to a psychosocial stressor (an adaption of the Trier ... [more ▼]

This research addresses the interplay between two implicit motives, that are power (nPow) and affiliation (nAff), and the cortisol reactivity (CR) to a psychosocial stressor (an adaption of the Trier Social Stress Test for Children; TSST-C; Buske-Kirschbaum et al., 1997) in 89 healthy children (45 female; Mage = 7.74, SDAge = 0.46). We assessed implicit motives by a 6-image Picture Story Exercise (PSE) and cortisol by 6 saliva samples. As hypothesized, the procedure triggered a significant cortisol reaction, F(1.44, 127.05Greenhouse-Geisser) = 8.22, p = .002, η²part = 0.09. Contrary to our hypothesis, children high in nPow showed no significant increase in CR (β = 0.06, p = .60). However, our results were in line with the findings of Wegner, Schüler, and Budde (2014) that a high implicit affiliation motive is associated with an attenuated CR (β = −0.21, p = .05). Perspectives for future research on implicit motives and children's CR to psychosocial stress are discussed. [less ▲]

Measures of Executive Functions and Mathematical Skills are Distinct Even at a Young Age: A Meta-Analysis with Preschool Children

Scientific Conference (2020)

Measures of executive functions (inhibition, attention shifting, working memory) are linked to measures of mathematical skills in school students and adults. However, the magnitude of this relation in ... [more ▼]

Measures of executive functions (inhibition, attention shifting, working memory) are linked to measures of mathematical skills in school students and adults. However, the magnitude of this relation in preschool children is unclear. Following the literature on the differentiation of cognitive skills over time, some researchers suggest that tests of executive functions and mathematical skills measure the same underlying construct, while others suggest that they measure correlated but distinct constructs. This dispute does not only tap the question of how the constructs can be understood but also the question of cost and test efficiency (i.e., assessments of single vs. multiple constructs). Clarifying the relation between measures of the two constructs can be especially challenging because preschoolers cannot fill in commonly used questionnaires that require them to read. Thus, researchers have to resort to behavioral, verbal, apparatus-, or computer-based assessments of executive functions. As a result, executive functions may vary in their relation to mathematical skills as a consequence of their measurement. We examined the link between executive functions and early mathematical skills measures, conducting a meta-analysis of 26 studies containing 238 effect sizes for a total sample of 24,256 preschool children. Specifically, we synthesized the corresponding correlations and aimed to clarify which executive function assessments were used for preschool children and how assessment characteristics may moderate the correlation between executive functions and mathematical skills. Three-level random-effects meta-analysis revealed a small to moderate average correlation between executive functions and mathematical skills measures of preschool children, r = 0.35. The type of assessment (behavioral, verbal, apparatus-, or computer-based assessments) did not moderate this relation. Investigating the three executive functions separately, we found average correlations of r = 0.31 between mathematical skills and inhibition, r = 0.38 between mathematical skills and attention shifting, and r = 0.36 between mathematical skills and updating. These analyses will be supplemented by further moderator and sensitivity analyses. These findings emphasize the significant link between executive functions and mathematical skills measures in preschoolers—hereby, supporting that the measures of both constructs are distinct. In addition, under-researched areas around the assessment of executive functions and mathematical abilities will be discussed. [less ▲]

Sozialpsychologische Mechanismen im AfD-Wahlprogramm erkennen: Ein Workshop gegen den Rechts-Populismus

in Walther, Eva; Isemann, Simon D. (Eds.) Die AfD – psychologisch betrachtet (2019)

Seit ihrer Gründung zieht die Partei Alternative für Deutschland eine immer größere Wählerschaft an. Sie stellt sich selbst als Protestpartei dar, die für die wahren Bedürfnisse der Bürger*innen eintrete ... [more ▼]

Seit ihrer Gründung zieht die Partei Alternative für Deutschland eine immer größere Wählerschaft an. Sie stellt sich selbst als Protestpartei dar, die für die wahren Bedürfnisse der Bürger*innen eintrete und diese gegen das Establishment und Minderheiten verteidige. Doch was steht hinter den rechtspopulistischen Inhalten, die die Partei vermittelt? Welche Strategien verwendet die AfD um Bürger*innen anzuziehen? Und wie kann man sich diesen erwehren und auch andere zum reflektierten Umgang mit den Parteiinhalten bewegen? Um diese Fragen zu beantworten, wird in diesem Kapitel nach einer kurzen Einleitung zum Thema Populismus ein Workshop vorgestellt, der Menschen für die sozialpsychologischen Mechanismen, die im Wahlprogramm der Alternative für Deutschland wirken, sensibilisieren soll. [less ▲]

Die Psychologie des Widerstands: Sozialpsychologische Mechanismen im AfD-Wahlprogramm erkennen

Presentation (2018, May)

Relationship satisfaction: Establishing measurement and structural invariance across men with gay and straight identity

Poster (2017, September)

The Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS; Hendrick, 1988) is a widely employed, seven-item measure of relationship satisfaction. However, research on its measurement invariance across people differing in ... [more ▼]

The Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS; Hendrick, 1988) is a widely employed, seven-item measure of relationship satisfaction. However, research on its measurement invariance across people differing in their sexual orientation identity has yet to be conducted. Consequently, it is still an open question whether the RAS can be used for comparative research across gay and straight people. This study starts filling this gap in examining RAS' measurement invariance across gay and straight men. To this end, we drew on a sample of 644 German men (half gay/straight), who responded to the German-version RAS (Hassebrauck, 1991), which has been extensively validated and found to be equivalent to its English counterpart. A stepwise multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine configural, metric, and scalar invariance as well as the structural invariance of latent factor variances and means across groups. Configural, metric, and partial scalar measurement invariance (by freeing one item intercept) could be established, indicating that the RAS enables comparative research targeting variances and means. Further, structural invariance testing revealed non-invariant variances but invariant latent means across groups, indicating that gay and straight men's reported relationship satisfaction is equally high albeit differently distributed. [less ▲]