title: How do different components of Effortful Control contribute to children's mathematics achievement?
abstract: This work sought to investigate the specific contribution of two different components of Effortful Control (EC) -attentional focusing (AF) and inhibitory control- to children's mathematics achievement. The sample was composed of 142 children aged 9-12 year-old. EC components were measured through the Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire (TMCQ; parent's report); math achievement was measured via teacher's report and through the standard Woodcock-Johnson test. Additionally, the contribution of other cognitive and socio-emotional processes was taken into account. Our results showed that only AF significantly contributed to the variance of children's mathematics achievement; interestingly, mediational models showed that the relationship between effortful attentional self-regulation and mathematics achievement was mediated by academic peer popularity, as well as by intelligence and study skills. Results are discussed in the light of the current theories on the role of children's self-regulation abilities in the context of school.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Psychology and Methodology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Murcia Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Noelia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Psychology and Methodology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Murcia Murcia, Spain ; Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Psychology and Methodology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Murcia Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Violeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pina
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: López-López
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Murcia Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González-Salinas
keywords: Effortful Control; attentional focusing; childhood; inhibitory control; mathematics achievement