Psychological Development and Education ›› 2022, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (2): 186-194.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2022.02.05

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The Reciprocal Relations between Executive Functions and Language Ability: The Moderating Effects of Socioeconomic Status

WU Guojing1, CHENG Xuelin1, LI Ye1, BAI Rong1, XING Shufen1, LI Yuhua2   

  1. 1. Depertment of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048;
    2. School of Elementary Education, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048
  • Published:2022-03-24

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Abstract: The present study explored reciprocal relations between three components of executive functions (EFs) and language ability respectively, as well as whether socioeconomic status (SES) moderate the relations. A total of 258 preschoolers (Mage=4.98, SD=0.74) were tested on three components of EFs and language ability at two time points over one year. Results showed that:(1) Three components of executive function-inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility and working memory at T1 could all predict language ability at T2; (2) Language ability at T1 could predict inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility and working memory at T2 respectively; (3) SES played a moderating role in some of the relations between executive functions and language ability. Specifically, language ability at T1 positively predicted cognitive flexibility at T2 when family SES was high. These findings indicate that there are reciprocal relations between three components of executive functions and language ability among preschoolers, and SES moderates some of the relations above.

Key words: inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, working memory, language, SES

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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