The role of negative emotionality in the development of child executive function and language abilities from toddlerhood to first grade: An adoption study

Abstract

Understanding the role of negative emotionality in the development of executive functioning (EF) and language skills can help identify developmental windows that may provide promising opportunities for intervention. In addition, because EF and language skills are, in part, genetically influenced, intergenerational transmission patterns are important to consider. The prospective parent-offspring adoption design used in this study provides a unique opportunity to examine the intergenerational transmission of EF and language skills. Participants were 561 children adopted around the time of birth. Accounting for birth mother EF and language contributions, we examined the role of child negative emotionality in toddlerhood (age 9 to 27 months) and childhood (age 4.5 to 7 years) on child EF and language skills in first grade (age 7 years). There was continuity in EF from age 27 months to 7 years, and in language ability from age 27 months to 7 years, with no cross-lagged effects between child EF and language ability. Negative emotionality at age 9 months predicted lower EF and lower language abilities at age 7 years, and growth in negative emotionality from age 4.5 to 7 years predicted lower child EF at age 7 years. Overall, findings suggested that lower negative emotionality at age 9 months was associated with higher toddler and child EF and language skills and that preventing growth in negative emotionality from age 4.5 to 7 years may lead to improvements in child EF. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Figure 1

Piecewise Latent Growth Curve Model for Negative Emotionality From Age 9 Months to Age 7 Years Note. ** p < .01.

Figure 2

The Effects of Birth Mother Cognitive Ability, Negative Emotionality, and Cognitive Skills at 27 Months on Executive Functioning and Language at 7 Years Note. Regression paths are indicated by the one-headed arrows, correlations are indicated by the double-headed arrows, and dashed lines indicate non-significant paths. Ovals indicate latent factors. Items used to estimate latent factors are not depicted for clarity. All child outcomes (EF and language) were regressed on all birth parent variables (EF and verbal intelligence), however, only significant paths are depicted for clarity. Negative Emo Intercept = Intercept, Neg Emo 9 to 27 Months = Slope 1, Neg Emo 4.5 to 7 Years Old = Slope 2. BM = birth mother. * p < .05. ** p < .01.