Executive functions and intelligence in children with mild intellectual disability

Iako postoji načelna saglasnost da su egzekutivne funkcije i inteligencija povezani konstrukti, podaci i intenzitetu te povezanosti su nekonzistentni. Cilj ovog rada je da se utvrdi odnos egzekutivnih funkcija i intelektualnih sposobnosti kod dece sa lakom intelektualnom ometenošću. Uzorkom je obuhvaćeno 95-oro dece sa lakom intelektualnom ometenošću (LIO), uzrasta 10-13,11 godina. Analizom dokumentacije pedagoško-psihološke službe škola su prikupljeni podaci o uzrastu i intelektualnim sposobnostima ispitanika. Egzekutivne funkcije su ispitane instrumentima za procenu kognitivne fleksibilnosti, inhibitorne kontrole i radne memorije. Analizom rezultata je utvrđena značajna korelacija IQ-a i verbalne radne memorije (p=0,008), dok između nivoa intelektualnog funkcionisanja i kognitivne fleksibilnosti, kao i inhibitorne kontrole, nije ustanovljen statistički značajan odnos. Rezultati našeg istraživanja idu u prilog stavu da IQ nije značajan determinator razvoja egzekutivnih funkcija u populaciji dece sa lakom intelektualnom ometenošću.Even though there is a global agreement that executive functions and intellectual abilities are related constructs, the data on the nature and level of that relation are various. The aim of this paper is to determine the relation between executive functions and intellectual abilities in children with mild intellectual disability. The sample consists of 95 children with mild intellectual disability (MID), aged between 10 and 13.11. The data on the examinees’ age and intellectual abilities were collected from school records. Executive functions were tested by means of instruments that assess cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control and working memory. By analyzing the results, a significant correlation was determined between the IQ and verbal working memory, while there is no statistically significant relation either between the levels of intellectual functioning and cognitive flexibility, or inhibitory control. The results of our research support the assumption that the IQ is not significant in determining the development of executive functions in children with mild intellectual disability