Impact of Executive Functioning and Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder on Children's Peer Relations and School Performance

Abstract

This study examined the predictive relations from symptoms of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and executive functioning (EF) to social and school functioning in 112 (62 girls) school children. High levels of teacher and parent ratings of ADHD symptoms at the ages of 8-8 1/2 years, and poor EF measured at the age of 8 1/2, were associated with poor social functioning measured by peer nominations and poor teacher ratings of school functioning at the age of 9 1/2. ADHD symptoms independently predicted social and school functioning, whereas EF independently predicted only school functioning. Interaction effects between ADHD and EF and between EF and gender were found: At high levels of symptoms of inattention, the poorer the EF, the greater the need for special education. At high levels of symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity, the poorer the EF, the higher the levels of physical aggression. Girls with poor EF were less accepted by peers than equivalent boys.

How Do Children with ADHD (Mis)manage Their Real-Life Dyadic Friendships? A Multi-Method Investigation

“…Current evidence pertaining to the role of executive-skills deficits in explaining the social problems of children with ADHD is limited and inconsistent (Clark, Prior, & Kinsella, 2002;Diamantopoulou, Rydell, Thorell, & Bohlin, 2007;Huang-Pollock, Mikami, Pfiffner, & McBurnett, 2009). Although our study was not designed to test Barkley's (1997) theory, our current results could be interpreted as partly in line with some of his contentions.…”

The neurocognition of conduct disorder behaviors: specificity to physical aggression and theft after controlling for ADHD symptoms

“…However, not all CD studies report these impairments [Fairchild et al, 2009;Pennington and Ozonoff, 1996]. The variation in results may be due to the fact that CD is often comorbid with ADHD, yet studies seldom examined their comorbidity [Déry et al, 1999;Diamantopoulou et al, 2007;Séguin et al, 2004Séguin et al, , 2009Waschbusch, 2002].…”

The Mediating Role of Aggressive Behaviour, Emotional and Behavioural Instability on the Association between ADHD Symptoms and Best Friend Conflicts

“…Extending previous research which concentrated on general social functioning and peer 309 status (Abikoff et al 2004;Bagwell et al 2001;Diamantopoulou et al 2005Diamantopoulou et al , 2007 Step 1: R 2 =0.033, p<0.01;…”

“…Many studies have suggested that ADHD symptoms can be associated with difficulties 60 in peer relationships (Diamantopoulou et al 2005(Diamantopoulou et al , 2007. Children with ADHD symp-61 toms were found to be rejected and neglected by peers (Abikoff et al 2004;Bagwell et al 62 2001; Blachman and Hinshaw 2002 Furman 1996 (Berndt and Keefe 1995;Ladd et al 1996;Noakes and Rinaldi 2006).…”