Western Undergraduate Psychology Journal
Article Title
The Relationship Between Emotion Regulation and Executive Functioning After Sleep Restriction in Healthy Preschool Children
Abstract
Executive functions are a set of higher level cognitive processes that are necessary for the self-regulation of behavior and emotion, which allow individuals to guide attention engage in planned, goal-oriented behavior. Emotion regulation is the ability to control emotional arousal and adapt to the demands of the daily environment. Sleep has been demonstrated to be important for daily functioning in children, adolescents and adults. However, the impact of emotion regulation on the relationship between sleep and executive functioning in healthy preschool children has not yet been tested. This study investigated the relationship between emotion regulation, executive functions, and negative emotions after sleep restriction in healthy preschool children. It was hypothesized that emotion regulation scores would predict executive functioning scores and negative emotions, and that this relationship would be moderated by the amount of sleep restriction experienced by the participant. Participants were typically developing boys and girls between the ages of three to five years (N=55), without sleeping difficulties. A significant relationship between emotion regulation and Delay of Gratification was found. No other significant effects were found. Results are discussed in relation to previous literature and specific characteristics of the sample.
Recommended Citation
Danilewitz, J., Reid, G., & Turnbull, K. (2016). The Relationship Between Emotion Regulation and Executive Functioning After Sleep Restriction in Healthy Preschool Children. Western Undergraduate Psychology Journal, 4 (1). Retrieved from https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/wupj/vol4/iss1/4