Diverging Paths: Heterogeneity in Early Childhood Executive Function Development in Chile

Abstract

Highlights What are the main findings? Three distinct EF developmental profiles (persistently disadvantaged, normative, advantaged accelerating) emerge as early as age 3, with divergent growth rates. Home environment quality emerged as the strongest predictor of trajectory membership, and early cognitive development showed protective power against the lowest trajectories, whereas caregiver depressive symptoms, parenting stress, and most sociodemographic factors were not significant predictors. What are the implications of the main findings? Enriching home learning environments before formal schooling may help reduce EF disparities. Given its protective role, interventions supporting early cognitive development should target infancy, not just later childhood, to prevent severe executive function delays. Abstract Background/Objectives: Executive function (EF) is a foundational cognitive process associated with academic achievement and socioemotional adjustment. While average developmental trends are well documented, less is known about heterogeneity in EF trajectories during early childhood and the contextual factors associated with different developmental pathways. This study examined longitudinal trajectories of EF between ages 3 and 6 and their associations with family, child, and caregiver well-being, as well as the home environment. Methods: Data were drawn from the Chilean longitudinal cohort First Thousand Days (Mil Primeros Días [MPD]; n = 583). EF was assessed at ages 3, 5, and 6 using the Cat-Dog task. Latent profile analysis identified EF trajectories, and multinomial logistic regression examined predictors of trajectory membership. Results: Three EF trajectories were identified: Normative (54.5%), Persistently Disadvantaged (34.6%), and Advantaged Accelerating (10.8%). Home environment quality was the most consistent predictor of trajectory membership, increasing the likelihood of following the Advantaged Accelerating (RRR = 1.59) or Normative (RRR = 1.21) trajectory relative to the Persistently Disadvantaged trajectory. Early cognitive development protected against the most disadvantaged trajectory, whereas distal sociodemographic characteristics and caregiver well-being were not significant predictors of trajectory membership. Conclusions: Individual differences in EF emerge early and show divergent growth rates through age 6, with home environment quality as the strongest predictor—highlighting the value of enriching home learning environments before school entry.