Journal of Applied Psychological Research

The Structural Model of Executive Functions based on Future Thinking with the Mediating Role of Theory of Mind in Preschool Children

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Depatrtment of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Khoramabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khoramabad, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Khoramabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khoramabad, Iran.

3 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Khoramabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khoramabad, Iran.

Abstract

The present study seeks to investigate the structural model of executive functions based on future thinking, with the theory of mind serving as a mediating factor in preschool children. The current study is a correlational analysis employing structural equation modeling. The statistical population in this study comprised preschool children in Khorramabad city during the academic year 2021-2022. The sample size was determined using the Kline model (2023) and was obtained through a random cluster sampling procedure involving 300 children. Data collection tools included the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), the Children’s Future Thinking Questionnaire (CFTQ), and the Theory of Mind Test (TOM-Test). Data were analyzed employing Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling utilizing SPSS-24 and AMOS-24. The findings showed that the direct influence of future thinking and theory of mind was positively and significantly associated with executive functions. Additionally, the results indicated that theory of mind plays a mediating role in the relationship between future thinking and executive functions. Additionally, the proposed model demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data (RMSEA=0.056, P-value<0.05), and the final model accounts for 66% of the variance in executive functions. Therefore, it can be concluded that future-oriented reasoning and theory of mind are predictive of preschool children’s executive functions.

Keywords

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Journal of Applied Psychological Research
Volume 16, Issue 4
December 2025
Pages 237-251
  • Receive Date: 01 June 2023
  • Revise Date: 06 August 2023
  • Accept Date: 27 August 2023
  • First Publish Date: 16 April 2025
  • Publish Date: 22 December 2025