Psychosocial adversity and executive functions in children and adolescents: a systematic review of mediating and moderating influences of parenting behaviors.

OBJECTIVE

Summarize the state of the evidence on potential mediating and moderating roles of parenting behaviors in the relationship between psychosocial adversity and executive functions among children and adolescents.

METHOD: A systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO databases in June 2024, screening for eligible studies, in duplicate, and summarizing results from individual studies.

RESULTS

Twenty-one eligible studies were identified, 18 from the USA and Canada, and 3 from other countries. In 17 studies of mediation, developmentally supportive parenting behaviors and non-supportive parenting behaviors at least partly explained the relationship between adversity (low socioeconomic status, household chaos, intimate partner violence, and maternal depression) and executive functions. Among four studies testing moderation, two suggested that a context of developmentally supportive parenting behaviors (e.g., maternal sensitivity) may act as a protective factor, buffering the negative effects of adversity (low socioeconomic status) on executive functions.

CONCLUSION

Parenting practices are potentially important intervening mechanisms explaining the effects of adversity on child executive functions, and developmentally supportive parenting behaviors could mitigate negative effects. However, the current evidence base is limited, particularly about potential buffering effects, and further research is needed across a wider range of countries and settings.