Being optimally aroused matters: Effects of a weak stress manipulation on children's executive functions are moderated by temperament and age.

Autor/inn/en	Neuenschwander, Regula; Roebers, Claudia M.; Blair, Clancy
Titel	Being optimally aroused matters: Effects of a weak stress manipulation on children's executive functions are moderated by temperament and age.
Quelle	In: Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, 4 (2014) 1, S. 194-208 PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Link als defekt meldenVerfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1927-0526; 1927-0534
DOI	10.5539/jedp.v4n1p194
Schlagwörter	Exekutive Funktion; Persönlichkeit; Lehren; Stress; Aktivierung; Physiologischer Faktor
Abstract	We tested a core assumption of the bidirectional model of executive function (EF) (Blair & Ursache, 2011) indicating that EF is dependent on arousal. From a bottom-up perspective the performance on EF tasks is assumed to be curvilinearly related to arousal, with very high or low levels of arousal impairing EF. N = 107 4-and 6-year-olds' performance on EF tasks was explored as a function of a weak stress manipulation aiming to raise children's emotional arousal. EF (Stroop, Flanker, Go/no-go, and Backwards Color Recall) was assessed and stress was induced in half of the children by imposing a mild social-evaluative threat. Furthermore, children's temperament was assessed as a potential moderator. We found that stress effects on children's EF performance were moderated by age and temperament: 4-year-olds with high Inhibitory Control and high Attentional Focusing were negatively affected by the stressor. However, it is unclear whether these effects were mediated by self-reported arousal. Our findings disconfirmed the hypotheses that adverse effects of the stressor are particularly high in children high on emotional reactivity aspects of temperament and low on self-regulatory aspects of temperament. Further, 6-year-olds did not show any stress effects. Results will be discussed within the framework of the Yerkes-Dodson law and with regard to stress manipulations in children. (ZPID).
Erfasst von	Leibniz-Institut für Psychologie, Trier
Update	2026/3