Examining the Association Between Executive Functions and Developmental Domains of Low-Income Children in the United States and Turkey

Mubeccel Gonen, Tulin Guler-Yildiz, Ayca Ulker-Erdem, Aileen Garcia, Helen Raikes, Ibrahim H. Acar, Feyza Ozkan-Yildiz, Ipek Karlidag, Sukran Ucus, Dawn L. Davis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined the relations between executive functions and developmental domains of preschool children from low-income families through an intercultural perspective in the U.S. and Turkey. A total of 471 children and their primary caregivers participated in the Turkey part of the study, while 286 children and their parents engaged in U.S. sample. Regression analyses revealed that fine motor, problem solving, and executive functions of children between two contexts were significantly different from each other. In the U.S., executive functions predicted communication, problem solving, and fine motor development, whereas in the Turkish sample, executive functions did not predict domain scores. Child gender predicted four of five developmental outcomes in the U.S., whereas maternal education predicted two of five outcomes in Turkey. In addition, invariance testing demonstrated that predictors to outcomes were not significantly different between the two countries. Country differences from the first set of outcomes were explained in the context of the research sites, children’s socialization, and cultural expectations surrounding child development. This study raises questions about relations between executive functions and developmental domains for future research.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)155-179
Number of pages25
JournalPsychological reports
Volume122
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2019

Keywords

  • Executive functions
  • child development
  • cross-cultural research
  • low income
  • preschoolers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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