Longitudinal applications of a behavioral screener of executive functioning: Assessing factorial invariance and exploring latent growth

This study included a replicated derivation of a behavioral screener for executive functions among children, longitudinal invariance analyses to evaluate measurement reliability across time, and latent growth modeling of 4 executive functions: problem solving, attentional control, behavioral control, and emotional control. The sample included 1,237 (52% female) participants age 6 to 11 years. Participants were tracked longitudinally for 3 years with 5 assessment waves, and new participants were recruited at each wave to compensate for attrition. As predicted, the 4-factor model was successfully replicated, with longitudinal invariance newly confirmed. These findings support this screener as a reliable childhood measure for executive functions, and latent growth modeling identified predictive qualities of gender and age on levels and changes in these constructs.