Abstract
Low inhibitory control (IC) is sometimes associated with enhanced problem-solving amongst adults, yet for young children high IC is primarily framed as inherently better than low IC. Here, we explore associations between IC and performance on a novel problem-solving task, amongst 102 English 2- and 3-year-olds (Study 1) and 84 Swedish children, seen at 18-months and 4-years (Study 2). Generativity during problem-solving was negatively associated with IC, as measured by prohibition-compliance (Study 1, both ages, Study 2 longitudinally from 18-months). High parent-reported IC was associated with poorer overall problem-solving success, and greater perseveration (Study 1, 3-year-olds only). Benefits of high parent-reported IC on persistence could be accounted for by developmental level. No concurrent association was observed between problem-solving performance and IC as measured with a Delay-of-Gratification task (Study 2, concurrent associations at 4-years). We suggest that, for young children, high IC may confer burden on insight- and analytic-aspects of problem-solving.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e2297 |
Journal | Infant and Child Development |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 5 Jan 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We are very grateful to the families who have contributed to this study. We would also like to acknowledge the following individuals who contributed to data collection: Tessel Bazelmans, Mutluhan Ersoy, Sabira Habib, Greg Pasco (STAARS project); Sara Högberg, Fredrika Tham (EFFECT project); Nazanin Biabani, Anna Clark, Malin Karstens, Rebecca Thoburn Pallant, Isabel Quiroz (LonDownS Consortium); Bailey Wristen, Claire Essex, Clare Hansen (TABLET project); and to behavioural coding: Maxine Howard, Beliz Çelikbaş (STAARS project); Natalie Koorn (EFFECT project); Megan Tongs (TABLET project). The British Autism Study of Infant Siblings (BASIS)/Studying Autism and ADHD in at Risk Siblings (STAARS) project was funded by the Medical Research Council (MR/K021389/1); the EFFECT project funded by grant 421‐2012‐1222 from Vetenskapsrådet to Dr. Karin Brocki; the LonDownS Consortium funded by Wellcome Trust Strategic Award (grant number: 098330/Z/12/Z) and the TABLET project funded by a Philip Leverhulme Prize (PLP‐2013‐028). M. Agyapong is supported by an ESRC 1 + 3 PhD studentship. H. D'Souza is the Beatrice Mary Dale Research Fellow supported by Newnham College, University of Cambridge. R. Bedford is supported by a Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship and King's Prize Fellowship (204823/Z/16/Z). A. Hendry is supported by the Scott Family Junior Research Fellowship at University College, University of Oxford, and was previously supported by an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Funding
We are very grateful to the families who have contributed to this study. We would also like to acknowledge the following individuals who contributed to data collection: Tessel Bazelmans, Mutluhan Ersoy, Sabira Habib, Greg Pasco (STAARS project); Sara Högberg, Fredrika Tham (EFFECT project); Nazanin Biabani, Anna Clark, Malin Karstens, Rebecca Thoburn Pallant, Isabel Quiroz (LonDownS Consortium); Bailey Wristen, Claire Essex, Clare Hansen (TABLET project); and to behavioural coding: Maxine Howard, Beliz Çelikbaş (STAARS project); Natalie Koorn (EFFECT project); Megan Tongs (TABLET project). The British Autism Study of Infant Siblings (BASIS)/Studying Autism and ADHD in at Risk Siblings (STAARS) project was funded by the Medical Research Council (MR/K021389/1); the EFFECT project funded by grant 421‐2012‐1222 from Vetenskapsrådet to Dr. Karin Brocki; the LonDownS Consortium funded by Wellcome Trust Strategic Award (grant number: 098330/Z/12/Z) and the TABLET project funded by a Philip Leverhulme Prize (PLP‐2013‐028). M. Agyapong is supported by an ESRC 1 + 3 PhD studentship. H. D'Souza is the Beatrice Mary Dale Research Fellow supported by Newnham College, University of Cambridge. R. Bedford is supported by a Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship and King's Prize Fellowship (204823/Z/16/Z). A. Hendry is supported by the Scott Family Junior Research Fellowship at University College, University of Oxford, and was previously supported by an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Keywords
- divergent thinking
- generativity
- inhibitory control
- problem-solving
- self-regulation
- toddlers
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology