Bridging the Gap: The Connection Between Executive Function and Anxiety

This article is part of our weekly series, Executive Function Tips for Families.

What is Executive Function?

Executive function (EF) refers to a set of mental skills that includes working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. These skills are essential for planning, focusing, and managing multiple tasks. By building EF skills early, we set children up for long-term learning success.

Executive Function’s Connection to Behavior and Anxiety

Research has shown that a child’s early executive function (EF) and self-regulation (SR) skills build the foundation for greater academic performance and good mental health. This week, we’re breaking down a study about the connection between executive function and behavioral anxiety in children. Read on to learn about the impacts a child’s cognitive development has on their social emotional wellness!

Before We Continue: Understanding the Study

This article explores findings from the paper The Role of Executive Function at 6 Years in the Association between Behavioral Inhibition at 5 years and Anxiety at 7 Years by Émilie Dumont et al (2024), published in the National Library of Medicine.

This study dissects how early shyness and fearfulness are linked to later anxiety and how cognitive flexibility and working memory might influence this connection. The researchers in this study tested two executive function skills, cognitive flexibility and working memory, in a group of four hundred twenty two children ages five to seven. Researchers aimed to understand whether or not EF skills could lessen or worsen anxiety.

Key Takeaways

The Relationship Between Social Emotional Wellness and Cognitive Development

Early shyness and fearfulness at age 5 predict higher anxiety levels at age 7, but only in children with low cognitive flexibility or working memory executive functioning at age 6.
Skills like cognitive flexibility and working memory help reduce the impact of early shyness and later anxiety and promote better overall functioning and well-being in children.
EF skill training can help children manage their anxiety. Strong EF skills help children shift their attention away from anxiety-provoking thoughts and focus on the positive aspects of a situation.
EF skills help children process information, letting them plan and execute coping strategies for stressful situations.
After receiving training on identifying problems and solutions, as well as learning to challenge negative thought patterns, children with anxiety showed improvements when handling uneasy situations.

Researchers noted a connection between shyness, fearfulness, anxiety, and low EF skills. They also found that skills like cognitive flexibility and working memory help reduce the impact of early shyness and later anxiety. While many children may not experience these emotions often, it is still important to strengthen a child’s EF skills. Let’s look at some things that can be done at home!

Actionable Steps for Parents

Here’s how you can support your child’s EF development at home:

Measuring Your Child’s Executive Function

- Read Measuring Your Child’s Executive Function: What Families Need to Know to better understand where your child stands and where they can improve their EF skills.

Improving Social Development and Executive Functioning

- Read What is Social Development in Early Childhood? to learn why your child may struggle with problem solving and social interactions in addition to how you may combat these challenges.

Strengthening Executive Functioning with Fun

- Studies show that children who engage in imaginative play have more academic success and stronger social skills. Engage in Pretend Play – How to Get Kids to Focus Using Superheroes to assist in the development of your child’s executive functioning.
- Play Beyond the Book: Four Mini Executive Function Games for Story Time to strengthen your child’s cognitive flexibility and working memory skills!.
- Play Let’s Breathe to practice breathing exercises that help your child relax and think about their behaviors which improves their impulse control skills..

Why It Matters

Data shows that children are dealing with higher anxiety levels and more social wellbeing challenges. Assisting in the development of executive functioning can better equip children to conquer social challenges. No matter what challenges a child may encounter as they grow, strong EF skills can help lead to success!