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Social Information Processing, Comorbid Mental Health Symptoms, and Peer Isolation among Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Becker, Stephen P
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1400676074

Abstract Details

2014, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Psychology.
Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently experience co-occurring mental health symptoms as well as peer impairment. This study tested the hypothesis that social information processing (SIP), and attribution biases in particular, may be important for understanding the presence of comorbid disruptive behavior disorder or anxiety symptoms among children with ADHD. Specifically, it was hypothesized that negative internal or external attribution biases would be differentially associated with co-occurring anxious or oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder (ODD/CD) symptoms, respectively. It was also hypothesized that the pathway from negative external attribution biases to ODD/CD symptoms would be associated with peer exclusion but not peer withdrawal, whereas the pathway from negative internal attribution biases to anxiety symptoms was hypothesized to be associated with both peer exclusion and withdrawal. Participants were 112 children (73 boys; ages 7-12; 76% non-Hispanic white) diagnosed with either ADHD Inattentive Type (49%) or ADHD Combined Type (51%). Results supported the hypothesis that negative internal attribution bias was positively associated with parent/child-rated anxiety symptoms among children with ADHD, although negative external attribution bias was not found to be associated with parent/teacher-reported ODD/CD symptoms. However, negative external attribution bias was related to children's self-reported aggressive behavior. In terms of comorbid mental health symptoms and peer isolation domains, ODD/CD symptoms were found to be uniquely related to teacher-rated peer exclusion, whereas anxiety symptoms were unrelated to either peer exclusion or withdrawal. However, more support was found when only child-report measures were used, as anxiety symptoms were positively associated with child-rated loneliness and negatively associated with child-rated social acceptance. This study furthers the extant literature by providing preliminary evidence for a negative internal attribution bias to contribute to the anxiety symptoms commonly experienced by children with ADHD. Interventions may need to target these cognitive deficits when targeting comorbid anxiety. Given the detrimental outcomes associated with both comorbidity and peer impairment among children with ADHD, future research will need to further explore the interrelations of social cognition, comorbidity, and social adjustment in order to refine theoretical models of the developmental psychopathology of ADHD that may in turn point to new or targeted areas for intervention.
Aaron Luebbe, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Joshua Langberg, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Carl Paternite, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Vaishali Raval, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Robert Burke, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
68 p.
Clinical Psychology; Psychology
ADHD; Aggression; Anxiety; Comorbidity; Conduct Problems; Depression; Hostile Attribution Bias; Loneliness; Oppositional Behavior; Peers; Positive Illusory Bias; Social Functioning; Social Cognition; Social Competence

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Becker, S. P. (2014). Social Information Processing, Comorbid Mental Health Symptoms, and Peer Isolation among Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1400676074

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Becker, Stephen. Social Information Processing, Comorbid Mental Health Symptoms, and Peer Isolation among Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. 2014. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1400676074.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Becker, Stephen. "Social Information Processing, Comorbid Mental Health Symptoms, and Peer Isolation among Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1400676074

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami1400676074
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This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.