Examining the structural relationships of behavioral activation system and behavioral inhibition system with externalizing and internalizing problems: the mediating role of hot and cool executive functions

Abstract

In recent years, prevalence of the internalizing and externalizing problems in young adult population, has become a growing concern. There are many studies in which the relationship between internalizing and externalizing problems with behavioral activation and inhibition systems and hot and cool executive functions have been investigated separately, but no research is available about the mediating role of executive functions in relationship between internalizing/externalizing problems and behavioral activation/inhibition systems in young adult population. The aim of the present study is to examine the relationship between internalizing/externalizing problems and behavioral activation/inhibition systems with regard to the mediating role of hot and cool executive functions.

The method of the present study is structural equation modeling (SEM). Statistical population of this research was all of the students in universities of Tehran city, from which 160 subjects (18 to 25 years) were chosen using convenience sampling method. Assessment was conducted by 5 cognitive tests including Corsi blocks test, Flanker test, WCST, Iowa gambling task and Emotional stroop, and 3 questionnaires including Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSSRQ), Behavior Assessment System for Children College self-report form (BASC-3 COL), and Kirby delay discounting questionnaire.

The results indicated a direct and statistically significant path from behavioral activation/inhibition systems to hot and cool executive functions (b = 0/71, p value < 0/05) internalizing problems (b = 0/033, p value < 0/05) and externalizing problems (b = -0/21, p value < 0/05). In addition, results showed an indirect and statistically significant path from behavioral activation/inhibition systems to internalizing problems (b = 0/84, p value < 0/05) and externalizing problems (b = 0/46, p value < 0/05).

Statistically significant relationship between behavioral activation/inhibition systems with internalizing and externalizing problems, suggests that dysregulation of these two systems can lead to an array of psychiatric symptoms. Moreover, the significance of the mediating role of hot and cool executive functions in relationship between behavioral activation/inhibition systems and internalizing/externalizing problems, indicates that executive functions might have a regulatory influence on the behavioral activation/inhibition systems and through this regulatory influence, executive functions may buffer the adverse effects of behavioral activation/inhibition dysregulation on psychological problems.

According to the possibility of enhancing executive functioning abilities through cognitive interventions, and diagnostic applications of the different behavioral activation/inhibition and executive functioning activity profiles, results of this study have both diagnostic and clinical importance.