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PMID: 12109488 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Observed classroom behavior of children with ADHD: relationship to gender and comorbidity.

Journal of abnormal child psychology ·Vol. 30 ·No. 4 ·2002-08-00 ·Pages 349-59

Abikoff HB, Jensen PS, Arnold LL, Hoza B, Hechtman L, Pollack S, Martin D, Alvir J, March JS, Hinshaw S, Vitiello B, Newcorn J, Greiner A, Cantwell DP, Conners CK, Elliott G, Greenhill LL, Kraemer H, Pelham WE, Severe JB, Swanson JM, Wells K, Wigal T

Abstract

Examined hypothesized gender and comorbidity differences in the observed classroom behavior of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The behavior of 403 boys and 99 girls with ADHD, ages 7-10, was compared (a) to observed, sex-specific classroom behavior norms, (b) by sex, and (c) by comorbid subgroups. Boys and girls with ADHD deviated significantly from classroom norms on 15/16 and 13/16 categories, respectively. Compared to comparison girls, girls with ADHD had relatively high rates of verbal aggression to children. Boys with ADHD engaged in more rule-breaking and externalizing behaviors than did girls with ADHD, but the sexes did not differ on more "neutral," unobtrusive behaviors. The sex differences are consistent with notions of why girls with ADHD are identified and referred later than boys. Contrary to hypothesis, the presence of comorbid anxiety disorder (ANX) was not associated with behavioral suppression; yet, as hypothesized, children with a comorbid disruptive behavior disorder (DBD) had higher rates of rule-breaking, and impulsive and aggressive behavior, than did children with ADHD alone and those with ADHD+ANX. Elevated rates of ADHD behaviors were also observed in children with comorbid DBD, indicating that these behaviors are truly present and suggesting that reports of higher ADHD ratings in this subgroup are not simply a consequence of negative halo effects and rater biases.

MeSH Terms
Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis,epidemiology,psychology Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/diagnosis,epidemiology,psychology Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders/diagnosis,psychology Child Child Behavior Disorders/diagnosis,epidemiology,psychology Comorbidity Female Humans Internal-External Control Male Personality Assessment Prognosis Sex Factors Social Behavior
Authors & Affiliations
23 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Abikoff Howard B
New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA. [email protected]
Jensen Peter S
Arnold L L Eugene
Hoza Betsy
Hechtman Lily
Pollack Simcha
Martin Diane
Alvir Jose
March John S
Hinshaw Stephen
Vitiello Benedetto
Newcorn Jeffrey
Greiner Andrew
Cantwell Dennis P
Conners C Keith
Elliott Glen
Greenhill Laurence L
Kraemer Helena
Pelham William E
Severe Joanne B
Swanson James M
Wells Karen
Wigal Tim
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Article Info
Journal
Journal of abnormal child psychology
Abbr.
J Abnorm Child Psychol
ISSN
0091-0627
DOI
10.1023/a:1015713807297
Email
[email protected]
Published
2002-08-00
Pages
349-59
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
0364547
Subset
IM
Grants
NIMH NIH HHS · U01 MH50440 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · U01 MH50467 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · U01 MH50454 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · U01 MH50447 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · U01 MH50453 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · U01 MH50461 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1023/a:1015713807297
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