Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a frequent neurodevelopmental disorder in children. ADHD has a multifactorial origin, combining genetic and environmental factors. Several studies suggested an influence of early parent-child relationships on the symptomatic expression of ADHD. In this review, we examine the studies that have investigated the links between attachment and ADHD in children. We searched for studies published between January 2000 and November 2019 on PsychInfo, PubMed, and Scopus. Selected studies included a theoretically based measure of attachment and an explicit measure of ADHD symptoms or an ADHD diagnosis. Studies that included children from adoption, institutionalization, or mistreatment were not included. We found only 26 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Almost all these studies indicated a link between the attachment type and the presence of attentional difficulties and hyperactivity. However, associations were better explained, in several studies, by confounding factors such as comorbidities, cognitive difficulties, or contextual factors. The method used to assess attachment and parental mental health also had an impact. An increasing number of studies show a link between the type of attachment and the presence of attentional difficulties and hyperactivity in children. However, the nature of this link remains unclear. Implications for future research are discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.