Leiden University Student Repository

Roos, Annelien (2014)

Aandacht voor Executief Functioneren! Een onderzoek naar de rol van Aandacht bij Executief functioneren van kinderen in de leeftijd van vier tot zeven jaar

Master thesis | Education and Child Studies (MSc)

This study examined the influence of attention on executive functioning in 471 children from four to seven years of age. Computer based tasks (Amsterdamse Neuropsychologische Taken) were used to assess their level of attention. A questionnaire on dysexecutive functioning in children (DEX-K) was filled out by their parents to asses problems in executive functioning. T- tests and ANOVAs showed significant age- and gender differences in executive functioning and attention. Boys showed more problems in executive functioning, had faster reaction times, where girls performed better on a sustained attention task. A significant age effect was found for two ANT tasks. Older children had a significantly faster reaction time and better sustained attention compared to younger children. Multiple regression analysis indicated that gender, age and performance on attention tasks, especially reaction time, predicted problems in executive functioning. This relation was not moderated by gender or age....Show moreThis study examined the influence of attention on executive functioning in 471 children from four to seven years of age. Computer based tasks (Amsterdamse Neuropsychologische Taken) were used to assess their level of attention. A questionnaire on dysexecutive functioning in children (DEX-K) was filled out by their parents to asses problems in executive functioning. T- tests and ANOVAs showed significant age- and gender differences in executive functioning and attention. Boys showed more problems in executive functioning, had faster reaction times, where girls performed better on a sustained attention task. A significant age effect was found for two ANT tasks. Older children had a significantly faster reaction time and better sustained attention compared to younger children. Multiple regression analysis indicated that gender, age and performance on attention tasks, especially reaction time, predicted problems in executive functioning. This relation was not moderated by gender or age. The results of the study confirm some previous research findings. Further investigation will tell the extent to which attention and executive functioning of young children can be measured adequately through behavioral reviews and neuropsychological research.Show less

Aandacht

Executief functioneren

Dex-K

ANT

Author

Roos, Annelien

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Clinical child and adolescent studies

Supervisors

Dekker, M.C.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

nl