title: Parenting, corpus callosum, and executive function in preschool children.
abstract: In this longitudinal population-based study (N = 544), we investigated whether early parenting and corpus callosum length predict child executive function abilities at 4 years of age. The length of the corpus callosum in infancy was measured using postnatal cranial ultrasounds at 6 weeks of age. At 3 years, two aspects of parenting were observed: maternal sensitivity during a teaching task and maternal discipline style during a discipline task. Parents rated executive function problems at 4 years of age in five domains of inhibition, shifting, emotional control, working memory, and planning/organizing, using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version. Maternal sensitivity predicted less executive function problems at preschool age. A significant interaction was found between corpus callosum length in infancy and maternal use of positive discipline to determine child inhibition problems: The association between a relatively shorter corpus callosum in infancy and child inhibition problems was reduced in children who experienced more positive discipline. Our results point to the buffering potential of positive parenting for children with biological vulnerability.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Child and Family Studies , Leiden University , Leiden , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rianne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lucassen
authors.forename: Marian J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bakermans-Kranenburg
authors.forename: Marinus H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: van IJzendoorn
authors.forename: Akhgar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghassabian
authors.forename: Sabine J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Roza
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Govaert
authors.forename: Vincent W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Jaddoe
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Frank C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Verhulst
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tiemeier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002668:Child Rearing / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D004644:Emotions; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D011340:Problem Solving; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Corpus callosum; Executive function; Parenting; Preschool; Socialization