Article

AIM: To identify whether executive functioning mediates the effect of having
unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) on executive functioning in everyday life,
psychological functioning, and social functioning. METHOD: A cross-sectional
cohort of 46 children with unilateral CP (25 males, 21 females; mean age 11y 1mo,
SD 2y 5mo; 24 right-sided, 22 left-sided) and 20 children with typical
development (nine males, 11 females; mean age 10y 10mo, SD 2y 4mo). Cognitive
executive functioning was tested using a neuropsychological battery. Executive
functioning in everyday life was measured with the Behavior Rating Inventory of
Executive Function (BRIEF; teacher and parent reports) and psychological and
social functioning by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
Analysis included analysis of covariance and bootstrapping. RESULTS: Children
with unilateral CP were found to have significantly decreased functioning,
compared with children with typical development, on the BRIEF Behavioral
Regulation Index, the BRIEF Metacognition Index, and on the SDQ emotion, conduct,
hyperactivity, and peer problems subscales. Group differences were mediated by
cognitive executive functioning for the BRIEF Metacognition Index (teacher and
parent report), the BRIEF Behavioral Regulation Index (parent report only), the
SDQ conduct subscale, and the SDQ hyperactivity subscale. INTERPRETATION: This
study suggests that the increased risk of children with unilateral CP
experiencing executive functioning difficulties in everyday life, conduct
problems, and hyperactivity can be partly explained by decreased cognitive
executive functioning abilities relative to children with typical development.
CI - (c) 2014 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS