Family communication and everyday executive function in preschool children

The current study examined the relation between family functioning and multi-step task success in pre-school aged children. Executive function was assessed using the Preschool Executive Task Assessment (PETA), a performance-based measure of executive function that reflects a novel multi-step task (N = 119; Mage = 5.85 years, SD = 0.62). Parents/guardians completed the Systematic Clinical Outcome Routine Evaluation-28 (SCORE-28) to assess family functioning. Parent reports of family functioning were significantly related to executive function. In particular, family communication was associated with executive performance, or the amount of support required to complete the multi-step task. Results highlight the potential importance of positive family functioning, particularly family communication, in the promotion of executive functions and the need for the development of targeted family communication interventions for preschool children at risk for poor executive development.