title: Longitudinal applications of a behavioral screener of executive functioning: assessing factorial invariance and exploring latent growth.
abstract: This study included a replicated derivation of a behavioral screener for executive functions among children, longitudinal invariance analyses to evaluate measurement reliability across time, and latent growth modeling of 4 executive functions: problem solving, attentional control, behavioral control, and emotional control. The sample included 1,237 (52% female) participants age 6 to 11 years. Participants were tracked longitudinally for 3 years with 5 assessment waves, and new participants were recruited at each wave to compensate for attrition. As predicted, the 4-factor model was successfully replicated, with longitudinal invariance newly confirmed. These findings support this screener as a reliable childhood measure for executive functions, and latent growth modeling identified predictive qualities of gender and age on levels and changes in these constructs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Victoria.
authors.forename: Mauricio A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Garcia-Barrera
authors.forename: Justin E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Karr
authors.forename: Randy W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kamphaus
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012919:Social Behavior