Parental Skills and Academic Competences in School Children: The Mediator Role of Executive Functions

Abstract The role of parenting in the development of children's learning constitutes, at present, part of the discussion in the psychoeducational field. Although parental competences (PC) and executive functions (EF) have been investigated by psychology and neuropsychology, their relationship with academic competences remains to be fully studied. The aim of this investigation was to analyze the effect of PC perceived by parents on behavioral EF and performance-based measures of reading and mathematical competences in children. We worked with 131 school children of both sexes, between 9 and 11 years old, and their respective parents. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and structural equation model (SEM) were used. The results indicate that parental skills from the parents' perspective have a significant effect on EF, reading, and mathematical skills. However, the best fit model indicates that EFs mediate the relationship between parenting skills and reading and math skills.

Resumen El rol parental en el desarrollo del aprendizaje de los niños constituye, en el presente, una parte de la discusión en el campo psicoeducativo. Aunque las competencias parentales (PC) y las funciones ejecutivas (EF) han sido investigadas por la psicología y la neuropsicología, su relación con las competencias académicas permanece abierta para ser estudiada a profundidad. El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar el efecto de los PC percibidos por los padres en EF comportamentales y las mediciones basadas en el desempeño de las competencias lectoras y matemáticas en niños. Trabajamos con 131 niños y niñas de colegio, entre 9 y 11 años, y sus padres. Se hizo uso del Análisis Multivarial de Variación (MANOVA) y el modelo de ecuación estructural (SEM). Los resultados indican que las habilidades parentales desde la perspectiva de los padres poseen un efecto significativo en las EF, la lectura y las habilidades matemáticas. De forma que los modelos mejor ajustados indican que las EFs median la relación entre las habilidades parentales, lectoras y matemáticas.

Systematic Observation: Relevance of This Approach in Preschool Executive Function Assessment and Association with Later Academic Skills.

Executive functions (EFs) are high-level cognitive processes that allow us to coordinate our actions, thoughts, and emotions, enabling us to perform complex tasks. An increasing number of studies have highlighted the role of EFs in building a solid foundation for subsequent development and learning and shown that EFs are associated with good adjustment and academic skills. The main objective of this study was to analyze whether EF levels in 44 Spanish children in the last year of preschool were associated with levels of literacy and math skills the following year, that is, in the first year of compulsory education. We used a multi-method design, which consisted of systematic observation to observe preschool children during play and selective methodology to assess their reading, writing, and math skills in the first year of compulsory primary education. General linear modeling was used to estimate the percentage of variability in academic skills in the first year of primary school that was explained by preschool EF abilities. The results showed that preschool EF level, together with participants and the instrument used to assess academic skills, explained 99% of the variance of subsequent academic performance. Another objective was to determine whether our findings were generalizable to the reference population. To make this determination, we estimated the optimal sample size for assessing preschool EFs. To do this, we performed a generalizability analysis. The resulting generalizability coefficient showed that our sample of 44 students was sufficient for assessing preschool EFs. Therefore, our results are generalizable to the reference population. Our results are consistent with previous reports that preschool EF abilities may be associated with subsequent literacy and math skills. Early assessment of EFs may therefore contribute to identifying children who are likely to experience later learning difficulties and guide the design of suitable interventions for the optimization of EFs.

Exploración del Uso de las Competencias Académicas Definidas en el Proceso Educativo y Formativo en Psicología / Exploration of the Use of Defined Academic Competencies in the Education and Training Process in Psychology

La investigación en la cual se apoya este artículo tuvo como objeto de estudio las competencias académicas definidas para la enseñanza universitaria en Psicología, y como propósito obtener información y datos sobre algunas de sus características en la práctica de la Psicología. Fue una investigación descriptiva de corte transversal, apoyada en un ejercicio empírico. Se definió una muestra única posible de 41 egresados y de 37 estudiantes en prácticas, encontrándose que todas las competencias enunciadas en los ítems del instrumento fueron vividas, utilizadas o realizadas. También se halló alta frecuencia de uso en algunas competencias con diferencias entre egresados y practicantes. Se concluyó que las competencias deben definirse en procura de una relación de continuidad y pertinencia entre lo educativo y lo laboral.

This paper focuses on academic study and has as its purpose to collect data about the characteristics required for Psychology teaching in college. This research was an empirical, descriptive, and transversal study. 41 graduates and 37 students in their internship year were sampled; all the competences defined in the instrument items were realized, used or lived. Additionally, high frequency of use in some competences was found, with differences between the results for graduates and interns. The study concluded that academic competences must be defined in order to have continuity and relevance between education and employment.

Competencias académicas y profesionales del psicólogo / The psychologist academic and professional competences

Esta investigación tiene como objetivo identificar cuáles son las competencias académicas y profesionales de los estudiantes y egresados de Psicología de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali. Participaron 98 estudiantes matriculados en el programa académico de Psicología, que cursaban entre séptimo y décimo semestre; además, se contó con 21 psicólogos egresados de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Cali. Se lograron identificar, a partir de los resultados, los niveles de autopercepción en las competencias de estudiantes y egresados a partir de los campos de acción como Clínica, Educativa, Organizacional, Investigación, Evaluación Psicológica y otras áreas. Se concluyó que la competencia de mayor relevancia tanto en estudiantes como egresados está en el área Organizacional, por la elección del campo de formación y el área de desempeño actual.

The aim of this study is to identify what are the academic and professional competences of psychology students and graduates of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana of Cali city. The sample was 98 seventh and eighth college semester students of the psychology program and 21 graduates from the same program. The results show that the levels of self perception of competences of students and graduates were identified concerning areas such as clinical, educational, and organizational psychology, research, assessment in psychology and others. It is conclude that the more relevant competence, for students and graduates, is in the organizational area, because of the selection of the training field and the actual area of performance.