Growth of Executive Functions in Preschool-Age Children During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Empirical Evidence
Background. During the lockdown for COVID-19, children were limited in a number of activities which are essential for the development of executive functions (play, social interaction, and organized sport). Earlier studies found an increase in executive function issues in children during the pandemic...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Psychology in Russia: State of Art |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psychologyinrussia.com/volumes/index.php?article=10329 |
| _version_ | 1798028794833928192 |
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| author | Elena A. Chichinina Margarita N. Gavrilova |
| author_facet | Elena A. Chichinina Margarita N. Gavrilova |
| author_sort | Elena A. Chichinina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. During the lockdown for COVID-19, children were limited in a number of activities which are essential for the development of executive functions (play, social interaction, and organized sport). Earlier studies found an increase in executive function issues in children during the pandemic, based on caregivers’ reports.
Objective. The present study was a pioneer in exploring the dynamics of children’s executive function development during the lockdown. Our purpose was to explore the effect of the lockdown on the growth of executive functions in children over a one-year period, as compared to their peers before the pandemic.
Design. The sample consisted of two cohorts of children. All the children had been attending the same kindergartens but in different periods of time. The executive functions of both groups were assessed twice, with a year’s break in-between (the first group was assessed before the pandemic; the second, during the pandemic). These groups were comparable in gender composition, age, and family’s place of residence.
Results. The results have confirmed concerns about the slower growth of executive functioning in children during the lockdown versus their peers before the pandemic, especially for cognitive flexibility and working memory. Inhibition was not significantly affected by the lockdown. Moderation analysis showed that the lockdown impacted girls differently than boys in terms of working memory. The negative effect of social restrictions on working memory was significantly higher in females.
Conclusion. Our findings illuminate the negative effects the pandemic-related social restrictions had on the growth of children’s cognitive flexibility and working memory. For working memory, the effect of social isolation varied depending on the child’s gender. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T19:14:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0a92c504fdf6465e86542df56e53a194 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2074-6857 2307-2202 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T19:14:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psychology in Russia: State of Art |
| spelling | doaj.art-0a92c504fdf6465e86542df56e53a1942022-12-22T04:07:29ZengM.V. Lomonosov Moscow State UniversityPsychology in Russia: State of Art2074-68572307-22022022-06-0115212413610.11621/pir.2022.0209Growth of Executive Functions in Preschool-Age Children During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Empirical EvidenceElena A. Chichinina0Margarita N. Gavrilova1Lomonosov Moscow State UniversityLomonosov Moscow State UniversityBackground. During the lockdown for COVID-19, children were limited in a number of activities which are essential for the development of executive functions (play, social interaction, and organized sport). Earlier studies found an increase in executive function issues in children during the pandemic, based on caregivers’ reports. Objective. The present study was a pioneer in exploring the dynamics of children’s executive function development during the lockdown. Our purpose was to explore the effect of the lockdown on the growth of executive functions in children over a one-year period, as compared to their peers before the pandemic. Design. The sample consisted of two cohorts of children. All the children had been attending the same kindergartens but in different periods of time. The executive functions of both groups were assessed twice, with a year’s break in-between (the first group was assessed before the pandemic; the second, during the pandemic). These groups were comparable in gender composition, age, and family’s place of residence. Results. The results have confirmed concerns about the slower growth of executive functioning in children during the lockdown versus their peers before the pandemic, especially for cognitive flexibility and working memory. Inhibition was not significantly affected by the lockdown. Moderation analysis showed that the lockdown impacted girls differently than boys in terms of working memory. The negative effect of social restrictions on working memory was significantly higher in females. Conclusion. Our findings illuminate the negative effects the pandemic-related social restrictions had on the growth of children’s cognitive flexibility and working memory. For working memory, the effect of social isolation varied depending on the child’s gender.http://psychologyinrussia.com/volumes/index.php?article=10329working memorycognitive flexibilityinhibitiondevelopmentcovid-19lockdown |
| spellingShingle | Elena A. Chichinina Margarita N. Gavrilova Growth of Executive Functions in Preschool-Age Children During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Empirical Evidence Psychology in Russia: State of Art working memory cognitive flexibility inhibition development covid-19 lockdown |
| title | Growth of Executive Functions in Preschool-Age Children During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Empirical Evidence |
| title_full | Growth of Executive Functions in Preschool-Age Children During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Empirical Evidence |
| title_fullStr | Growth of Executive Functions in Preschool-Age Children During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Empirical Evidence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Growth of Executive Functions in Preschool-Age Children During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Empirical Evidence |
| title_short | Growth of Executive Functions in Preschool-Age Children During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Empirical Evidence |
| title_sort | growth of executive functions in preschool age children during the covid 19 lockdown empirical evidence |
| topic | working memory cognitive flexibility inhibition development covid-19 lockdown |
| url | http://psychologyinrussia.com/volumes/index.php?article=10329 |
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