Does the Frontal Brain Electrical Activity Mediate the Effect of Home Executive Function Environment and Screen Time on Children’s Executive Function?

Abstract

Executive functions play an important role in various developmental aspects of children; however, environmental factors influencing individual differences in children’s executive function and their neural substructures, particularly in middle childhood, are rarely investigated. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between the home executive function environment (HEFE) and screen time with the executive function of children aged 8-12 years by employing the mediating variables of alpha, beta, and theta waves. The parents of 133 normal children completed Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning, HEFE, and Screen Time Scales. Alpha, beta, and theta brain waves were also measured. Data were examined using correlational and path analysis. The results suggested a positive and significant relationship between home executive functions and the executive functions of children. Furthermore, the results indicated an inverse and significant relationship between screen time and executive function. The results also proved the mediating role of alpha, beta, and theta brain waves in the relationship between screen time and the children’s executive function. Environmental factors (such as home environment and screen time) affect the function of brain waves and, thus, the daily executive function of children.

Keywords:

• Executive function
• brain electrical activity
• home executive function environment
• screen time

Disclosure statement

No conflicts of interest were declared.

Data availability statement

The data supporting the research findings are accessible from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The current study did not take any financial aid from funding agencies in the commercial, public, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Sakineh Soltani Kouhbanani

Sakineh Soltani Kouhbanani is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology at Ferdowsi Mashhad University in Iran. Her research interests include Executive Function and children’s cognitive development and parent–child interactions in early childhood and how cognitive, temperamental, and socialization factors influence children’s moral emotions and behaviors.

Seyedeh Manizheh Arabi

Seyedeh Manizheh Arabi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Motor Behavior at Bu-Ali Sina University in Iran. Her research interests include the effect of motor development and motor development on social and cognitive development of healthy and exceptional children and adults.

Somayeh Zarenezhad

Somayeh Zarenezhad is a researcher and Master of Science in Psychology. Her research interests include Executive Function and children’s cognitive development and parent–child interactions in early childhood.