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Kim SY, Song J, Wen W, Chen S, Zhang M, Yan J, Lopez BG, Arredondo MM, Ip KI. Culturally relevant stressors as moderators of intergenerational transmission of mother-adolescent executive function in Mexican immigrant families. Cogn Res Princ Implic 2021; 6:70. [PMID: 34731353 PMCID: PMC8566615 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-021-00333-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The intergenerational transmission of executive function may be enhanced or interrupted by culturally salient environmental stressors that shape the practice of executive function in the family. Building upon past research, the current study tests whether culturally relevant stressors such as economic stress and foreigner stress have a direct effect on adolescent executive function, as well as whether they modify the intergenerational transmission of mother–child executive function (i.e., working memory, inhibitory control, and shifting) in low-income Mexican immigrant families. The sample consists of 179 Mexican American adolescents (Mage = 17.03 years; SDage = 0.83; 58% females) and their Mexico-born mothers (Mage = 43.25 years; SDage = 5.90). Results show that mothers’ perceived economic stress is associated with poor inhibitory control in adolescents. Low levels of mothers’ perceived foreigner stress related to a stronger association between mothers’ and adolescents’ working memory, while high levels of mothers’ perceived foreigner stress related to enhanced intergenerational transmission of poor shifting ability. Study findings demonstrate the prominence of perceived foreigner stress as a contextually relevant factor moderating the intergenerational transmission of mother–child executive function in low-income Mexican immigrant families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Yeong Kim
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 108 East Dean Keeton St., Stop A2702, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
| | - Jiaxiu Song
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 108 East Dean Keeton St., Stop A2702, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Wen Wen
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 108 East Dean Keeton St., Stop A2702, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Shanting Chen
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 108 East Dean Keeton St., Stop A2702, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Minyu Zhang
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 108 East Dean Keeton St., Stop A2702, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Jinjin Yan
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 108 East Dean Keeton St., Stop A2702, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Belem G Lopez
- Department of Mexican American and Latina/O Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Maria M Arredondo
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 108 East Dean Keeton St., Stop A2702, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Ka I Ip
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Yu Y, Hua L, Feng X, Wang Y, Yu Z, Zi T, Zhao Y, Li J. True Grit in Learning Math: The Math Anxiety-Achievement Link Is Mediated by Math-Specific Grit. Front Psychol 2021; 12:645793. [PMID: 33889116 PMCID: PMC8055855 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.645793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we tested a possible mechanism of the association between math anxiety and math achievement: the mediating role of math-specific grit (i.e., sustaining effort in the face of adversity when learning math). In Study 1, a sample of 10th grade students (N = 222) completed a battery of personality and attitude questionnaires, and math achievement was indexed by curriculum-based examination scores. Mediation analyses indicated that math-specific grit, but not domain-general grit, mediated the relationship between math anxiety and math achievement. In Study 2, we replicated and extended the above findings with another sample of 11th grade students (N = 465). Mediation analyses indicated that math-specific grit and math-specific procrastination played sequential mediating roles in the relationship between math anxiety and math achievement. That is, individuals with higher math anxiety were less gritty in math learning, possibly further leading them to be more procrastinated in performing math work, which may finally result in worse math achievement. In summary, the current study provides the first evidence that math-specific grit may mediate the relationship between math anxiety and math achievement. Furthermore, it also demonstrated the value of math-specific grit over domain-general grit in predicting math success, which invites a broader investigation on subject-specific grit.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liyun Hua
- College of Teacher Education, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Xingwang Feng
- College of Teacher Education, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Yueru Wang
- College of Teacher Education, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Zongren Yu
- College of Teacher Education, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Tong Zi
- College of Teacher Education, Dali University, Dali, China.,No. 4 Middle School of Binchuan, Dali, China
| | - Yajun Zhao
- School of Education and Psychology, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jingguang Li
- College of Teacher Education, Dali University, Dali, China
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Poon K, Ho MSH, Chu PCK, Chou KL. Transferability and sustainability of task-switching training in socioeconomically disadvantaged children: a randomized experimental study. Journal of Cognitive Psychology 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2020.1839082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kean Poon
- Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong
| | - Mimi S. H. Ho
- Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong
| | - Patrick C. K. Chu
- Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong
| | - Kee-Lee Chou
- Department of Asian and Policy Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong
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