Inhibitory control and emotion regulation in preschool children

This research investigated the relation between individual differences in inhibitory control and emotion regulation.Preschool children (N = 53) ages 4-6 (M = 5; 0) were assessed on brief batteries of inhibitory control of prepotent responses and emotion regulation.Individual differences in inhibitory control were significantly correlated with children's ability to regulate their emotions.This relation held up even after controlling for age and verbal ability, and persisted for both Emotion Understanding and "online" control of emotional expressions that were negative (Disappointing Gift) or positive (Secret Keeping).Parent report of children's self-control and emotion regulation corroborated the behavioral…