Authors:
Farrant BM, Fletcher J, Maybery MT
Authors notes:
Child Development Research 2014: 741543
Keywords:
cognitive flexibility, theory of mind, hyperactivity, inattention
Abstract:
The present study analyzed the concurrent and longitudinal relations among cognitive flexibility, theory of mind, and hyperactivity/inattention in a sample of 70 typically developing children (M age = 61.4 months).
Mothers and teachers reported on children's hyperactivity/inattention using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (Goodman, 1997), cognitive flexibility was measured using the dimension change card sort task (Zelazo, 2006), and theory of mind was assessed using a battery of tasks.
Cognitive flexibility and theory of mind scores were found to be significantly negatively correlated with the level of hyperactivity/inattention at both time points.
Furthermore, year 1 cognitive flexibility score was found to be a significant predictor of year 2 hyperactivity/inattention score a.er controlling for child age, gender, and year 1 hyperactivity/inattention score.
Directions for future research include training studies which would further our understanding of these relationships and allow more effective interventions.