Exploring the relationship between executive function and social competence of preschoolers: a moderated mediation model

Executive function (EF) is essential for developing social competence (SC) in early childhood. However, previous research has primarily taken a general perspective of SC and overlooked its components. Furthermore, although EF and SC are known to influence each other across childhood, the mechanisms of this interaction remain unclear. Therefore, the current study aims to explore the intricate relationship between EF and overall SC and its distinct components, aiming to clarify the underlying dynamics of their interplay. A total of 448 children, aged 36-72 months, from 12 Chinese kindergartens participated in this study. Results indicated significant associations between EF and overall SC and its components. Moreover, ER mediated the association between EF and SC, while gender moderated this association, with a stronger effect among boys compared to girls. Implications for informing and refining educational practices and policies to foster children's cognition and emotional development are discussed.