Inhibitory Control Across the Preschool Years: Developmental Changes and Associations with Parenting

Child Development, vol. 92, pp. 335–350

Abstract

The normative developmental course of inhibitory control between 2.5 and 6.5 years, and associations with maternal and paternal sensitivity and intrusiveness were tested. The sample consisted of 383 children (52.5% boys). During four annual waves, mothers and fathers reported on their children's inhibitory control using the Children's Behavior Questionnaire. During the first wave, mothers' and fathers' sensitivity and intrusiveness were observed and coded with the Emotional Availability Scales. Inhibitory control exhibited partial scalar invariance over time, and increased in a decelerating rate. For both mothers and fathers, higher levels of sensitivity were associated with a higher initial level of children's inhibitory control, whereas higher levels of intrusiveness predicted a slower increase in children's inhibitory control.

Authors 6

1. Sanne B. Geeraerts corresponding

   Utrecht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Utrecht University

2. Joyce Johanna Endendijk

   Utrecht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Utrecht University

3. Maja Deković

   Utrecht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Utrecht University

4. Jorg Huijding

   Utrecht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Utrecht University

5. Kirby D. Deater-Deckard

   University of Massachusetts Amherst

   Affiliation as printed

   Umass Amherst

6. Judi Mesman Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University