Family environment and parent-child relationships as related to executive functioning in children

The present study examines the associations between family environment, parenting practices and executive functions in normally developing children. One hundred parents of children between the ages of 5 and 12 completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions from the Family Environment Scale and the Parent-Child Relationship Inventory. Family Organisation, Parental Support and Parental Limit Setting were significantly associated with dimensions of children's executive functions. Specifically, Organisation was significantly associated with the following executive functions: Plan-Organise, Organisation of Materials, Working Memory, Inhibit, Shift and Monitor; Parental Support was associated with Plan-Organise, Working Memory and Inhibit; and Limit Setting was associated with Emotional Control, Inhibit, Shift and Monitor. Results suggest the importance of positive family environment and parenting practices in the development of executive functions in normally developing children.