An Investigation of Emotion Regulation and Executive Function Skills of Children Aged 48-72 Months in the Context of Age and Gender

Gamze Nur Kütük Dağ; Sema Soydan

doi:10.17275/per.26.40.13.3

An Investigation of Emotion Regulation and Executive Function Skills of Children Aged 48-72 Months in the Context of Age and Gender

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the emotion regulation and executive function skills of children aged 48-72 months in the context of age and gender. The study included 200 children aged 48-72 months enrolled in kindergartens with the Ministry of National Education in the Mut district of Mersin province. The 'Child Personal Information Form', 'Emotion Regulation Skills Scale', and 'Touchscreen Executive Function Battery' were utilized as data collection tools. The Bayes Mann-Whitney U Test was employed to determine whether emotion regulation and executive function (inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility) scores differed according to gender and age. According to the research results, it was found that the relationship between inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and emotion regulation differed depending on age and gender in children with high working memory. No significant relationship was found between cognitive flexibility and emotion regulation, or between inhibitory control and emotion regulation, in boys and girls aged 48-72 months with low working memory, nor in boys and girls aged 48-60 months with high working memory. However, a significant relationship was identified between cognitive flexibility and emotion regulation, and between inhibitory control and emotion regulation, in boys and girls aged 61-72 months with high working memory. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that the relationship between cognitive control mechanisms and emotion regulation in children is shaped not only by possessing a high working memory capacity but also by advancing age and developmental maturity.

Keywords

emotion regulation, executive functions, inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Basic Training (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Gamze Nur Kütük Dağ ^*
0009-0009-5412-0271
Türkiye

Sema Soydan
0000-0003-0232-3818
Türkiye

Publication Date

May 4, 2026

Submission Date

January 19, 2026

Acceptance Date

March 10, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 13 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.40.13.3

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA62JR69FJ

APA

Kütük Dağ, G. N., & Soydan, S. (2026). An Investigation of Emotion Regulation and Executive Function Skills of Children Aged 48-72 Months in the Context of Age and Gender. Participatory Educational Research, 13(3), 183-198. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.40.13.3

AMA

1.Kütük Dağ GN, Soydan S. An Investigation of Emotion Regulation and Executive Function Skills of Children Aged 48-72 Months in the Context of Age and Gender. PER. 2026;13(3):183-198. doi:10.17275/per.26.40.13.3

Chicago

Kütük Dağ, Gamze Nur, and Sema Soydan. 2026. “An Investigation of Emotion Regulation and Executive Function Skills of Children Aged 48-72 Months in the Context of Age and Gender”. Participatory Educational Research 13 (3): 183-98. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.40.13.3.

EndNote

Kütük Dağ GN, Soydan S (May 1, 2026) An Investigation of Emotion Regulation and Executive Function Skills of Children Aged 48-72 Months in the Context of Age and Gender. Participatory Educational Research 13 3 183–198.

IEEE

[1]G. N. Kütük Dağ and S. Soydan, “An Investigation of Emotion Regulation and Executive Function Skills of Children Aged 48-72 Months in the Context of Age and Gender”, PER, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 183–198, May 2026, doi: 10.17275/per.26.40.13.3.

ISNAD

Kütük Dağ, Gamze Nur - Soydan, Sema. “An Investigation of Emotion Regulation and Executive Function Skills of Children Aged 48-72 Months in the Context of Age and Gender”. Participatory Educational Research 13/3 (May 1, 2026): 183-198. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.40.13.3.

JAMA

1.Kütük Dağ GN, Soydan S. An Investigation of Emotion Regulation and Executive Function Skills of Children Aged 48-72 Months in the Context of Age and Gender. PER. 2026;13:183–198.

MLA

Kütük Dağ, Gamze Nur, and Sema Soydan. “An Investigation of Emotion Regulation and Executive Function Skills of Children Aged 48-72 Months in the Context of Age and Gender”. Participatory Educational Research, vol. 13, no. 3, May 2026, pp. 183-98, doi:10.17275/per.26.40.13.3.

Vancouver

1.Gamze Nur Kütük Dağ, Sema Soydan. An Investigation of Emotion Regulation and Executive Function Skills of Children Aged 48-72 Months in the Context of Age and Gender. PER. 2026 May 1;13(3):183-98. doi:10.17275/per.26.40.13.3