Executive Function in Adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: A Developmental Perspective
| dc.contributor.advisor | Gouse, Hetta; Thomas, Kevin | |
| dc.contributor.author | Pomario, Tania | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-06-20T17:17:18Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-06-20T17:17:18Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2025-06-20T16:57:20Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Objective: Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have well-documented deficits in executive function. However, few previous studies have examined executive deficits displayed by children with FASD within a developmental framework. This longitudinal study explored the manifestation of executive function in both alcohol-exposed and typically developing adolescents from a low socioeconomic community in a low-and middle-income country. Method: 110 participants (48 with FASD, mean age 14.65 years, SD = 0.65 and 62 controls, mean age 14.49 years, SD = 0.44) were assessed at two time points, 18 months apart. Participants completed a battery of neuropsychological tests to measure executive function. Parents and teachers provided ratings of participants’ everyday executive function on the Behavior Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Principal component analysis examined the underlying components of the neuropsychological measures of executive function in the control group. Composite executive function test scores were computed for both groups, and ANCOVA was used to examine whether a) cognitive performance of the FASD group differed from that of the control group, and b) whether there was a change in scores across the two time points. Chi-square and ANCOVA analyses assessed group differences on the BRIEF. Finally, correlations and regressions investigated whether composite cognitive scores were significant predictors of behaviour, as measured by the BRIEF. Results: Neuropsychological measures of executive function clustered into four distinct factors reflecting the domains of Generativity, Attentional Control, Working Memory, and Processing Speed. The FASD group performed significantly worse than the control group on the Working Memory domain (p < .01). On the BRIEF, a significantly higher proportion of the FASD group was rated as having scores in the clinically impaired range by both parents (p < .001) and teachers (p < .01) compared to controls. Significant differences were found between the FASD and control groups on the Emotional Control and Organization of Materials scales of the BRIEF Teacher. Significant differences were found for the Global Executive Composite and the Plan/Organize and Monitor scales on the BRIEF Parent. The cognitive composites Attentional Control and Generativity were significantly negatively correlated with scores on several of the BRIEF Teacher clinical scales for the FASD group. Conclusion: Performance on working memory tasks emerged as the only domain of executive function that distinguished the FASD group from the control group. There was no notable developmental change in executive abilities over the course of the 18- month period in either group. Both parents and teachers reported that the FASD group displayed significantly more executive deficits, but only teacher ratings were correlated with neuropsychological test results. This suggests that children with FASD have more difficulties with executive functioning in their everyday lives than what is being detected on neuropsychological measures alone. Keywords: fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, executive function, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, adolescents, longitudinal study | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Pomario, T. (2025). <i>Executive Function in Adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: A Developmental Perspective</i>. (). University of Cape town ,Health Science ,Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41468 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Pomario, Tania. <i>"Executive Function in Adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: A Developmental Perspective."</i> ., University of Cape town ,Health Science ,Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41468 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Pomario, T. 2025. Executive Function in Adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: A Developmental Perspective. . University of Cape town ,Health Science ,Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41468 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Ben-David, Talia AB - It has long been accepted in South African tax law that a taxpayer is entitled to arrange his affairs so as to minimise his tax liability (the so called ‘choice principle'). However, the GAAR provisions contained in sections 80A to 80L of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 necessarily impose statutory limitations on the choice principle, and the question arises as to exactly how far a taxpayer's freedom to structure its affairs now extends. This dissertation seeks to determine, particularly in the context of multi-step commercial transactions, where the line between the application of the choice principle and the GAAR should be drawn, having regard to three specific requirements under the GAAR: the definition of an ‘arrangement' in section 80L, the definition of a ‘tax benefit' in section 1 and the ‘sole or main purpose' requirement in section 80A. By way of qualitative doctrinal research, these concepts in the GAAR which impact a taxpayer's ability to assert the choice principle are evaluated critically in light of the statutory provisions as well as South African and foreign case law. The analysis in this dissertation is undertaken in three main parts. First, as to the ‘tax benefit' requirement, Chapter 2 explores the historical development of the so-called ‘but for' test, its interpretation in both local and foreign jurisprudence, as well as the uncertainties attendant upon its application in the context of the South African GAAR. It is argued that the ‘but for' test might not always be applied by a court in considering the ‘tax benefit' requirement, and that the test will not always be the most appropriate mechanism for such an analysis. However, at the very least, the ‘but for' test can be applied as one mechanism (of several) for determining whether a tax benefit exists. In applying the test, certain practical guidelines drawn from the cases are considered in the Chapter. Secondly, in the context of the definition of an ‘arrangement', Chapter 3 broadly considers (i) what uncertainties arise, and what considerations ought to apply, when SARS elects to apply the GAAR to a step or steps in or a sub-part or sub-parts of a wider arrangement and (ii) in doing so, whether and to what extent SARS may disregard the overarching commercial purpose of the wider arrangement. The Chapter concludes with proposed answers to these questions in the context of the practical application of the ‘arrangement' requirement to multi-step commercial transactions. Finally, Chapter 4 analyses the purpose requirement of the GAAR as considered in various cases in an attempt to draw out certain trends that may be of assistance when considering and applying that requirement. In particular, the ascertainment of these trends or guiding principles focuses on the interplay between a taxpayer's right to assert the choice principle on the one hand, and impermissible tax avoidance on the other. Four main guiding principles are identified and analysed in this Chapter. Broadly stated, they are as follows: first, application of the GAAR is not avoided merely because the overall purpose of the wider arrangement has a commercial purpose; second, a taxpayer may be assisted in a defence against the GAAR by the availability of alternative methods to achieve the desired commercial result; third, mere ancillary tax benefits are insufficient to satisfy the ‘purpose' requirement; and fourth, a successful application of the GAAR seems less likely where a taxpayer “follows the rules” and places reliance on accommodating provisions of the income tax statute. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Finance and Tax LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape town PY - 2025 T1 - What are the Boundaries of the ?Choice Principle? in South African Tax Law in the Context of the GAAR? TI - What are the Boundaries of the ?Choice Principle? in South African Tax Law in the Context of the GAAR? UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41468 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41468 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Ben-David T. What are the Boundaries of the ?Choice Principle? in South African Tax Law in the Context of the GAAR?. []. University of Cape town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Department of Finance and Tax, 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41468 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | Eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Health Science | |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape town | |
| dc.subject | Medicine | |
| dc.title | Executive Function in Adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: A Developmental Perspective | |
| dc.type | Thesis / Dissertation | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | PHD | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | PHD |