Assessment of Executive Function in Childhood and Adolescence

Authors

Keywords:

executive function, neuropsychological assessment, ecological validity.

Abstract

Introduction: Executive functions (EFs) are a set of higher-order cognitive skills that allow human beings to better adapt to the environment. Their initial manifestations occur around the first decade of life, and extend until the third decade of it. Several studies have shown that EFs are predictors of school success, decisively influencing the performance of an infinite number of skills and tasks related to teaching-learning contexts,[1–4] where a malfunction could lead to difficulties, not only in the school environment but also in the social, behavioral and/or emotional spheres as well.

Objective: Systematize the theoretical references related to the assessment of executive functions in the school stage, both in Cuba and the world.

Method: A documentary review type research was carried out through a search in databases in different websites and online journals. Descriptors in English and Spanish were used.

Conclusions: Most of the studies reviewed worldwide assess executive functions using neuropsychological tests, being still limited to those aimed at assessing them in most of everyday aspects of life. It was found only one report of a questionnaire with ecological validity that measures this construct in Cuba, called Ballet Executive Scale (BES), which applies only to a small group of ballet students.

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Author Biography

Diunaysis Rodríguez González, Hospital Pediátrico Centro Habana

Lic. en Psicología

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Published

2023-12-12

How to Cite

1.
Rodríguez González D. Assessment of Executive Function in Childhood and Adolescence. Rev. Hosp. Psiq. Habana [Internet]. 2023 Dec. 12 [cited 2025 Aug. 18];20(3). Available from: https://revhph.sld.cu/index.php/hph/article/view/372

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Section

Artículo de revisión

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