The mediating role of executive functions in reading fluency among 8–10-year-old children: Evidence from a transparent orthography
Session
Psychology
Description
This study examined whether executive functions (EFs) mediate the relationship between age and reading fluency (RF) in children. Participants were 168 typically developing 8- and 10-year-olds who completed an RF task, isolated and composite EF measures, a socioeconomic status (SES) questionnaire, and a nonverbal intelligence test. Age significantly predicted RF, and all three core EFs were related to RF. After controlling for covariates, only updating and a composite EF measure (Trail Making Test, TMT) remained significant predictors, jointly explaining 23% of the variance. Mediation analyses revealed that both updating, and TMT significantly mediated the age–RF relationship, with partial mediation also observed for cognitive flexibility. A novel contribution of this study is the demonstration of these mechanisms in a highly transparent orthography—the Albanian language. Gender and nonverbal intelligence were not significant predictors, whereas SES and maternal education moderated the association between age and RF.
Keywords:
Reading fluency, executive functions, inhibition, updating, cognitive flexibility, transparent orthography
Proceedings Editor
Edmond Hajrizi
ISBN
978-9951-982-41-2
Location
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
Start Date
25-10-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
26-10-2025 6:00 PM
DOI
10.33107/ubt-ic.2025.324
Recommended Citation
Qehaja, Fatbardha Osmani and Berisha, Elma, "The mediating role of executive functions in reading fluency among 8–10-year-old children: Evidence from a transparent orthography" (2025). UBT International Conference. 13.
https://knowledgecenter.ubt-uni.net/conference/2025UBTIC/PSY/13
The mediating role of executive functions in reading fluency among 8–10-year-old children: Evidence from a transparent orthography
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
This study examined whether executive functions (EFs) mediate the relationship between age and reading fluency (RF) in children. Participants were 168 typically developing 8- and 10-year-olds who completed an RF task, isolated and composite EF measures, a socioeconomic status (SES) questionnaire, and a nonverbal intelligence test. Age significantly predicted RF, and all three core EFs were related to RF. After controlling for covariates, only updating and a composite EF measure (Trail Making Test, TMT) remained significant predictors, jointly explaining 23% of the variance. Mediation analyses revealed that both updating, and TMT significantly mediated the age–RF relationship, with partial mediation also observed for cognitive flexibility. A novel contribution of this study is the demonstration of these mechanisms in a highly transparent orthography—the Albanian language. Gender and nonverbal intelligence were not significant predictors, whereas SES and maternal education moderated the association between age and RF.