Components of socioeconomic status differentially predict development of cool versus hot executive function in young children

Zachary Demko; Alexis Hosch; Johanna Caskey; Giovanni Longino; Isaac T. Petersen

doi:10.1177/01650254251383697

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Components of socioeconomic status differentially predict development of cool versus hot executive function in young children

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Components of socioeconomic status differentially predict development of cool versus hot executive function in young children

Zachary Demko, Alexis Hosch, Johanna Caskey, Giovanni Longino and Isaac T. Petersen

International journal of behavioral development

10/26/2025

DOI: 10.1177/01650254251383697

PMCID: PMC12716863

PMID: 41425902

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https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12716863/View

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Abstract

It is established that higher family socioeconomic status predicts children’s the development of stronger executive function, which has implications for outcomes in adulthood. However, no prior studies have examined whether individual components of socioeconomic status independently predict children’s change in executive function. Moreover, research has distinguished between “hot” (affectively salient) and “cool” (affectively neutral) executive function. The present study examines the unique contributions of components of socioeconomic status in predicting change in children’s hot or cool executive function. Participants included a community sample of 231 children (109 girls) and their caregivers as part of a longitudinal study spanning ages 3–7.5 years. Children completed behavioral tasks, and parents reported their income, occupational prestige, and educational attainment. Cross-lagged panel models examined how components of socioeconomic status independently predicted change in children’s hot versus cool executive function 9 months later. We found support for a two-factor model of hot versus cool executive function in children. Some evidence suggested that parental occupational prestige predicted children’s change in hot executive function. Parental education, but not parental occupational prestige or family income, positively predicted children’s change in cool executive function. Findings suggest that parental education may uniquely contribute to children’s development of cool executive function.

Hot executive function

cool executive function

executive function

education

socioeconomic status

income

occupation

development

self-regulation

Details

Title: Subtitle: Components of socioeconomic status differentially predict development of cool versus hot executive function in young children
Creators: Zachary Demko - University of Iowa
Alexis Hosch - University of Iowa
Johanna Caskey - University of Iowa
Giovanni Longino - University of Iowa
Isaac T. Petersen - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: International journal of behavioral development
DOI: 10.1177/01650254251383697
PMID: 41425902
PMCID: PMC12716863
NLM abbreviation: Int J Behav Dev
ISSN: 0165-0254
eISSN: 1464-0651
Publisher: Sage
Grant note: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): HD098235 National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS): T32GM149386 National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS): UL1TR002537
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The project was funded by Grants HD098235 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), T32GM149386 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), and UL1TR002537 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS).
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 10/26/2025
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Center for Social Science Innovation
Record Identifier: 9985019040302771

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