Context determines the cost: Ecological relevance drives differences in inhibitory control

Children vary in their inhibitory control over their actions, and these variations predict life outcomes. A potential contributor to such variations is early life experiences, with adversity predicting lower levels of inhibitory control. However, it is unclear whether such effects are driven directly by adverse experiences, such as unpredictability of the home environment, or whether such effects are mediated by stress caused by adverse experiences. Moreover, recent work demonstrates that many apparent cognitive deficits stem from mismatches between task contexts and children's everyday experiences, rather than from inherent cognitive limitations. Further, children who experience early life adversity can show hidden talents, adaptive strategies that emerge under challenging conditions. We explored these issues in a study with 5–8 year-old children (N=118). We tested their inhibitory control performance via a Go/No-Go paradigm, links with home unpredictability via the Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale (CHAOS) and perceived stress via the Perceived Stress Scale—Child version (PSS-C), and the role of ecological relevance of task stimuli. We also examined children's cognitive flexibility, a skill where early life adversity has been linked with hidden talents, and their proactive control, which has been identified as a mechanism supporting inhibitory control. Contrary to our predictions, household unpredictability was not related to inhibitory control, and an exploratory moderated mediation analysis provided no evidence that the association between perceived stress and inhibitory control differed by task context. However, consistent with our predictions, children showed higher levels of inhibitory control on a Go/No-Go task using ecologically relevant stimuli compared to a traditional abstract task, indicating that traditional measures may underestimate children's inhibitory control abilities. Household unpredictability did not significantly predict proactive control or cognitive flexibility, although age-related improvements were observed in both domains, consistent with prior studies. Exploratory analyses revealed that perceived stress was associated with proactive control. These findings support an adaptive view of cognitive control, underscoring the importance of context-sensitive assessments and recognition of potential strengths alongside challenges.