Are Executive Functions and Impulsivity Related to Each Other and to Mental Health in Childhood?

Executive functions (EFs) and impulsivity are dimensions of self-regulation related to mental health. We found that EFs and impulsivity were weakly related to each other and related to mental health in childhood. These findings emphasize the importance of including measures of both EFs and impulsivity when assessing childhood mental health outcomes.

Freis, S. M., Morrison, C. L., Smolker, H. R., Banich, M. T., Kaiser, R. H., Hewitt, J. K., & Friedman, N. P. (2022). Executive functions and impulsivity as transdiagnostic correlates of psychopathology in childhood: A behavioral genetic analysis. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 16