Selective attention and inhibition in young school-aged children

Abstract

The aims of this research were to determine the developmental dynamics of selective attention and inhibition in younger school-aged children, as well as its relationship with gender and intellectual abilities. The sample consisted of 94 children [46 (48.9%) girls] of typical intellectual abilities (IQ 92-136; M=107.6, SD=11.08), aged between 8-11 years and 6 months. Selective attention and inhibition were assessed by Dodrill's Stroop test. Analysis of the results revealed statistically significant positive correlation of moderate degree (r=0.57) and highly statistically significant difference between the first and the second part of the Stroop test (p≤0.000). Age (p≤0.000), gender (p=0.001) and intellectual abilities (p=0.012) were statistically significant factors of Stroop performance. Age explains 30% of results variability, gender 15%, and differences in intellectual abilities 9%. Performance of 8 and 9 year-olds was statistically significantly different compared to 10 and 11 year-olds, which confirms the existence of developmental jump in selective attention and inhibition that occurs around 10 years of age.

Keywords

• younger school-aged children
• selective attention
• inhibition
• stroop test