Riggs Nathaniel R, Shin Hee-Sung, Unger Jennifer B, Spruijt-Metz Donna, Pentz Mary Ann
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, 317 Behavioral Sciences Building, 1570 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80525, USA,
J Immigr Minor Health. 2014 Oct;16(5):914-21. doi: 10.1007/s10903-013-9838-0.
The study purpose was to test 1-year prospective associations between English-Spanish bilingualism and executive function in 5th to 6th grade students while controlling for biculturalism. Participants included 182 US Latino students (50 % female). Self-report surveys assessed biculturalism, bilingualism, and executive function (i.e., working memory, organizational skills, inhibitory control, and emotional control, as well as a summary executive function score). General linear model regressions demonstrated that bilingualism significantly predicted the summary executive function score as well as working memory such that bilingual proficiency was positively related to executive function. Results are the first to demonstrate (a) prospective associations between bilingualism to executive function while controlling for the potential third variable of biculturalism, and (b) a principal role for working memory in this relationship. Since executive function is associated with a host of health outcomes, one implication of study findings is that bilingualism may have an indirect protective influence on youth development.
本研究的目的是在控制双文化主义的同时，测试五、六年级学生中英语-西班牙语双语能力与执行功能之间的1年前瞻性关联。参与者包括182名美国拉丁裔学生（50%为女性）。自我报告调查评估了双文化主义、双语能力和执行功能（即工作记忆、组织技能、抑制控制和情绪控制，以及执行功能综合得分）。一般线性模型回归表明，双语能力显著预测了执行功能综合得分以及工作记忆，即双语熟练程度与执行功能呈正相关。研究结果首次证明了：（a）在控制双文化主义这一潜在第三变量的情况下，双语能力与执行功能之间的前瞻性关联；（b）工作记忆在这种关系中起主要作用。由于执行功能与一系列健康结果相关，研究结果的一个启示是，双语能力可能对青少年发展具有间接的保护作用。
