The Impact of Parental Personality Traits and Parenting Behavior in Assessing the Development of Executive Functions in Preschoolers


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Abstract

Executive functions (EFs) in preschool age are significant predictors of cognitive development with long-term effects in adulthood; they are influenced by several factors, including personality traits and socioeconomic status. Recent studies highlight the significant parental influence, especially as parent-reported questionnaires have gained importance in assessing children’s EFs. The aim of this study was to examine the role of parental personality traits and parenting behaviors in assessing the development of EFs in preschool children. The study involved 526 mothers of preschoolers (aged 24-55, M = 36.74, SD = 4.91). The participants completed a survey based on Russian-language versions of the Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory (CHEXI), the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI-RU) and an item-reduced version of the Comprehensive General Parenting Questionnaire (CGPQ). The study revealed significant associations of parental personality traits and parenting behaviors with assessments of children’s EFs. The parents who rated their children’s EFs more positively demonstrated higher levels of extraversion, conscientiousness and openness, as well as structured and caring parenting, while negative ratings correlated with neuroticism and controlling behaviors. Structured parenting showed a positive association with conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and openness to experience, but a negative correlation with neuroticism. Caring parenting similarly correlated with conscientiousness and extraversion, while controlling behaviors showed minimal associations with personality traits. These findings highlight the relationship of parental perceptions with personality traits and behaviors, suggesting the need to critically interpret parent-reported assessments of children’s EFs in clinical and educational contexts, emphasizing the value of integrating multiple assessment methods and developing improved instruments that account for parental perception biases.

About the authors

Zhamilia N. Dzhansaidova

Federal Scientific Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research

Author for correspondence.
Email: zhamilyadzhansaidova@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0006-6101-8548

Junior Researcher

9/4 Mokhovaya St, Moscow, 125009, Russian Federation

Dmitriy S. Kornienko

Federal Scientific Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research

Email: dscorney@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6597-264X
SPIN-code: 5115-4075
Scopus Author ID: 36053200600
ResearcherId: ABA-1083-2022

Sc.D. in Psychology, Senior Researcher

9/4 Mokhovaya St, Moscow, 125009, Russian Federation

Natalia A. Rudnova

Federal Scientific Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research

Email: rudnova.na@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2063-2892
SPIN-code: 2568-1314

Ph.D. in Psychology, Researcher

9/4 Mokhovaya St, Moscow, 125009, Russian Federation

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