Age-varying associations between parent-reported executive function and internalizing/externalizing problems in children with neurofibromatosis type 1: an integrative analysis of data from nine institutions.

OBJECTIVES

This study examined age-specific associations between parent-reported executive function (EF) difficulties and internalizing/externalizing symptoms in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a genetic condition underrepresented in psychiatric research.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data of 1,049 observations from 803 children with NF1 (Mage = 10.58 years, SD = 3.84, range = 3-18; 47.5% female; 67.5% from higher-education households; 36.6% with familial NF1) across nine U.S. and Australian institutions were integrated. Parents rated EF difficulties using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function and internalizing/externalizing symptoms using the Child Behavior Checklist and the Behavior Assessment System for Children. Time-varying effect modeling estimated age-specific associations between EF and internalizing/externalizing symptoms and tested moderation by sex and parental education.

RESULTS

Poorer functioning in all EF domains was associated with greater internalizing and externalizing symptoms from ages 3 to 18. The associations were largely consistent across ages as well as sex and parental education subgroups with a few differences: (1) emotional control and cognitive flexibility problems were more strongly associated with internalizing symptoms during middle and late adolescence; (2) inhibitory control was more strongly linked to externalizing symptoms in childhood; (3) stronger associations between EF and internalizing symptoms were observed among males in early adolescence.

CONCLUSIONS

Parental complaints of EF difficulties are robustly linked to internalizing and externalizing problems from early childhood to late adolescence in children with NF1. Further longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to determine the directionality of these associations and whether EF represents a viable target for intervention.