Emotional Intelligence, Not Just ‘Executive Function,’ Influences A Child’s Ability To Pay Attention

Medical Daily – Susan Scutti

“Why do some kindergartners find it easy to focus and learn while others struggle? Young children with a keener understanding of emotion suffer fewer attention problems than children who possess less emotional intelligence, a new German study reveals. Children with a more limited emotional vocabulary “often seem distracted,” Dr. Maria von Salisch, a professor of developmental psychology at Leuphana University, stated in a press release. “Their attention is occupied by the explanation of their own confusing emotional states, the negative emotions of their fellow human beings, and the regulation of their own resulting emotions.” What factors facilitate or inhibit kindergartners in learning to master their attention? von Salisch and her colleagues asked themselves. To find the answer, the research team worked with 261 children from 33 kindergartens in Lower Saxony. The study began with an evaluation of the children when they were about 5 years old, and then, after a 14-month interval, the researchers conducted a second survey. Each of these examinations measured each child’s understanding of emotion, ability to regulate behavior, complex memory span, and language comprehension. The researchers noted sociodemographic background, sex, and language skills of each child. Meanwhile, preschool and kindergarten teachers also were asked to rate each child’s attentional abilities and problems.”(more)