Subjective Executive Function Weaknesses Are Linked to Elevated Internalizing Symptoms Among Community Adolescents

Mullin, Benjamin C.; Perks, Emmaly L.; Haraden, Dustin A.; Snyder, Hannah R.; Hankin, Benjamin L.

doi:10.1177/1073191118820133

Cited by 24 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 69 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The BRIEF has been found to be best represented by models including both common and specific factors (Pérez-Salas et al, 2016; Roth et al, 2013) and has been validated in relation brain injury, developmental disabilities, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Gioia et al, 2002). Data from the same study reported here found that total (Global Executive Composite) BRIEF scores were correlated with depression, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and conduct disorder symptoms (Mullin et al, 2020).…”

Section: Ef/ec Questionnairessupporting

confidence: 53%

Associations Between Task Performance and Self-Report Measures of Cognitive Control: Shared Versus Distinct Abilities

2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite overlapping terminology and assumptions that they tap the same constructs, executive function (EF) task performance and EF/effortful control (EC) questionnaires have been reported to be only weakly correlated. It is unclear if this reflects true lack of association or methodological limitations. The current study addresses past methodological limitations using a preregistered latent variable approach in a community youth sample ( N = 291, age 13-22 years). EF task performance was assessed with a well-validated battery inhibition, shifting, and updating tasks. Self-reported EF/EC was assessed using the predominant temperament measure (Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire–Revised [EATQ-R]), and a self-report assessment more closely aligned with EF constructs (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function–Self-Report [BRIEF-SR]). Bifactor models fit the BRIEF-SR, EATQ-R and EF task measures well. Self-reported EF/EC and EF task factors were only weakly correlated on average in youth, although there were some stronger associations in older youth. These results suggest that task-based measures of EF and self-report measures of EF/EC may be best viewed as complementary, but largely distinct, windows on cognitive control.

show abstract

Section: Ef/ec Questionnairessupporting

confidence: 53%

Associations Between Task Performance and Self-Report Measures of Cognitive Control: Shared Versus Distinct Abilities

2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…During the adolescent years, a social reorientation toward peers and gaining social acceptance coincides with a heightened risk for psychopathology including internalizing (e.g., depression and anxiety) and externalizing (e.g., impulsivity, aggression, and conduct problems) symptoms (e.g., Achenbach, 1966; Costello et al, 2011). Internalizing and externalizing symptoms involve affective dysregulation and compromised executive functioning (Kerestes et al, 2014; Mullin et al, 2018) such as poorer cognitive control (Snyder and Hankin, 2016), as measured by lower inhibitory control (Schulz et al, 2004; Vuontela et al, 2013), and altered reaction times during inhibitory failures (Albrecht et al, 2005; Ladouceur et al, 2006). This ultimately has lasting implications on adolescents’ lives (e.g., Fergusson and Woodward, 2002; Bongers et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral and Neural Dysregulation to Social Rewards and Links to Internalizing Symptoms in Adolescents

Kwon

Ivory

McCormick

et al. 2019

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Adolescence is a time of unique sensitivity to socially salient stimuli such as social rewards. This period overlaps with the onset of psychopathology such as internalizing and externalizing symptoms. In the current studies, we examined behavioral and neural patterns of dysregulation to social rewards and threats, and links to internalizing and externalizing symptoms in youths. In study 1, we used a social Go/NoGo cognitive control task using peer faces to test for age-related behavioral differences in inhibitory failures in adolescents ( N = 53, M age = 13.37 years), and adults ( N = 51, M age = 43.71 years). In study 2, an independent adolescent sample ( N = 51, M age = 13.98 years) completed a similar social Go/NoGo cognitive control task during fMRI. Results show that adolescents had greater inhibitory failures – as measured by false alarm rate – to both social reward and threat cues than adults, and more so to social reward than threat cues. Greater inhibitory failures to social reward than threat cues were associated with greater internalizing symptoms, but were not significantly related to externalizing symptoms. At the neural level, greater inhibitory failures to social reward than threat cues as well as greater internalizing symptoms were both associated with heightened amygdala-ventral striatum connectivity. Our findings indicate that subcortico-subcortical connectivity, which is deemed to occur chronologically earlier and thus necessary for subcortico-cortical circuits, may serve as an early biomarker for emotion dysregulation and a risk factor for internalizing symptoms.

show abstract

“…A recent review has established relationships between deficits in cognitive flexibility and verbal memory and symptoms of anxiety and depression (Iorfino et al, 2016). Mullin et al (2020) revealed a relationship between the most deficient EF skills reported by parents and the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as of externalizing symptoms. In the same line, Nelson et al (2018) concluded that early EF deficits may be an important risk factor for the development of internalizing psychopathology in childhood.…”

Section: Neuropsychological Characteristics Of Mental Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuropsychological deficits in internalizing and externalizing disorders

Rama-Victor

Rodríguez

2020

Psychologica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Over the past three decades, our understanding of the nature, assessment and treatment of childhood mental disorders has increased significantly. Some of the most recent advances come from transdiagnostic and neuropsychological-based approaches. While the relationship of similar neuropsychological deficits with some mental disorders, such as neurodevelopmental and severe mental disorders like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, is widely established, there is more controversy about their relationship with the so-called internalizing and externalizing disorders. In this article, our goal was to highlight the potential of incorporating cognitive strategies from integrative neuropsychological and transdiagnostic approaches to improve the effectiveness of empirically-supported cognitive-behavioral therapy for internalizing and externalizing mental disorders in childhood and adolescence. The results of the present work indicate that the vast majority of internalizing disorders, including the presence of anxiety, depressive, trauma-and stress-related, and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, as well as externalizing symptoms (corresponding to conduct disorder and ODD), present neuropsychological deficits and that their consideration may be relevant to improve the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions in children and adolescents by incorporating neuropsychology-based assessment and treatment tools. The inclusion of neuropsychological support strategies in therapy for childhood mental disorders implies an advance and has clear implications for the enhancement of psychological care for childhood mental disorders.

show abstract

Subjective Executive Function Weaknesses Are Linked to Elevated Internalizing Symptoms Among Community Adolescents

Cited by 24 publications

References 69 publications

Associations Between Task Performance and Self-Report Measures of Cognitive Control: Shared Versus Distinct Abilities

Associations Between Task Performance and Self-Report Measures of Cognitive Control: Shared Versus Distinct Abilities

Behavioral and Neural Dysregulation to Social Rewards and Links to Internalizing Symptoms in Adolescents

Neuropsychological deficits in internalizing and externalizing disorders

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About