Gender Differences in Child, Parent, and Teacher Perception of Social Functioning Among Children With ADHD

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) tend to experience social functioning problems, with girls more likely to encounter peer rejection than boys. The present study investigated gender differences in child, parent, and teacher perceptions of social functioning among ADHD and control children. Participants included 119 children (ages 6-11) and their parents. Sixty-one children were previously diagnosed with ADHD. Parents, teachers, and children completed measures assessing the child's social functioning. The results indicate that the relationship between ADHD status and social functioning differs as a function of rater. Teachers and parents reported that ADHD children had lower social functioning than controls, while ADHD and control children reported similar levels of social functioning. Gender differences were found on the child self-report, with girls reporting lower social functioning than boys. In ADHD children the relationship between social functioning and comorbid depression differed as a function of rater. Specifically, among ADHD children with depression, parents rated children as having lower social functioning than did children or teachers. In ADHD children without comorbid depression, however, there were no rater differences. Additionally, no rater differences in social functioning were found between ADHD children with and without a comorbid psychiatric condition. Overall, the results of the current study lend support to the idea that parents, teachers, and children have different perceptions of social functioning. Clinically, these results suggest that interventions could focus on identifying those ADHD children most at-risk for social functioning problems and developing interventions that fit with their perceptions. The limitations of the current study and directions for future research are presented.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2004

Author dc:creator

• Tureau, Corinne C. S.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kaminski, Patricia L.
• Flint, Pamela
• Watkins, C. Edward
• Koch, Shane

• Attention-deficit-disordered children.
• Social interaction in children -- Sex differences.
• peer rejection
• ADHD
• gender differences
• social functioning
• rater differences

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Tureau, Corinne C. S.
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 56828863
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4567/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc4567

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc4567