Being Optimally Aroused Matters: Effects of a Weak Stress Manipulation on Children’s Executive Functions Are Moderated by Temperament and Age

We tested a core assumption of the bidirectional model of executive function (EF) (Blair & Ursache, 2011)indicating that EF is dependent on arousal. From a bottom-up perspective the performance on EF tasks isassumed to be curvilinearly related to arousal, with very high or low levels of arousal impairing EF. N = 107 4-and 6-year-olds’ performance on EF tasks was explored as a function of a weak stress manipulation aiming toraise children’s emotional arousal. EF (Stroop, Flanker, Go/no-go, and Backwards Color Recall) was assessedand stress was induced in half of the children by imposing a mild social-evaluative threat. Furthermore,children’s temperament was assessed as a potential moderator. We found that stress effects on children’s EFperformance were moderated by age and temperament- 4-year-olds with high Inhibitory Control and highAttentional Focusing were negatively affected by the stressor. However, it is unclear whether these effects weremediated by self-reported arousal. Our findings disconfirmed the hypotheses that adverse effects of the stressorare particularly high in children high on emotional reactivity aspects of temperament and low on self-regulatoryaspects of temperament. Further, 6-year-olds did not show any stress effects. Results will be discussed within theframework of the Yerkes-Dodson law and with regard to stress manipulations in children.