Evaluating the effects of inhibitory control training as a universal prevention strategy for internalizing complaints in middle childhood
Abstract
Internalizing complaints or inwardly directed psychological difficulties such as anxiety, worry and low mood can significantly affect children's emotional well-being and daily functioning. If left untreated, these difficulties can persist into adulthood. Growing evidence has reported the critical role of cognitive control (ability to regulate attention and memory processes) in the development and maintenance of emotional problems such as anxiety. Cognitive control training has shown promise in reducing emotional vulnerability in adults and adolescents. However, studies with children are scant. The present study examined the potential of a gamified inhibitory control training as a universal prevention strategy aimed at reducing emotional vulnerability in children. Given the link between inhibitory control and math achievement (i.e., greater inhibitory control associated with higher math achievement), we also explored whether 15 sessions of daily training could improve math performance. Our randomized controlled trial, conducted in accordance with a pre-registered, published protocol, used a 2 (Group: Inhibitory control training group, n = 62; vs. Active control group, n = 61) × 4 (Time: pre- vs. post-training vs. 1-month vs. 3-month follow-up) design in a non-selected sample of Australian children aged 8-11 years (N = 123). Emotional, cognitive and academic measures were collected at each timepoint. Intention-to-treat analyses using linear mixed models showed no evidence of…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 123 participants or records.
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