The Relationships of Parenting and Family Relations with Executive Functions in Early Childhood
Keywords:
Parenting, Family relationships, Executive function, Early childhoodAbstract
Executive functions are high-order cognitive abilities which enable children to manage and control their thoughts, emotions, and behavior resulting in their achievement of goals and adaptation to life situations. This correlational descriptive research aimed to investigate executive function development in early childhood and the relationships between parenting, family relationships, and executive function development in early childhood. The sample consisted of 95 parents of children in early childhood. Data were collected at 7 child development centers in Mueang Lampang, Lampang province from October to November 2022. The research instruments included 1) the caregivers and children's personal information questionnaire, 2) the parent’s report scale, 3) the family environment scale, and 4) the assessment of executive functions in early childhood form. The reliabilities of the parent’s report scale and assessment of executive functions in early childhood, determined by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, were .81 and .80, respectively. The reliability of the family environment scale, demonstrated by the KR20, was .83. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.
The results of this study revealed that:
1. The executive function development of the children in early childhood was at a good level (M = 57.56, SD = 11.67). In determination of each dimension, it was found that three aspects were at a good level: working memory (M = 56.12, SD = 8.87), inhibitory control (M = 56.72, SD = 8.30), and emotional control (M = 56.41, SD = 8.78). The other two aspects were at a moderate level: shift/cognitive flexibility (M = 55.85, SD = 8.82) and planning and organizing (M = 55.80, SD = 9.18).
2. Parenting showed a statistically significant positive correlation with executive functions at a low level (r = .209, p < .05) while family relationships had a statistically significant positive correlation with executive functions at a moderate level (r = .306, p < .01).
The findings of this study can be used as information for parents to strengthen good parenting behaviors which are particularly appropriate, such as disciplining children consistently, raising children without abandon, and building good family relationships for enhancing the executive functions of children in early childhood.
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