Emotional dispositions and maladaptive behaviours in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

<p>Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity, resulting in significant challenges in daily functioning. Children with ADHD often exhibit elevated externalizing and internalizing behaviours, which can increase the risk of later psychological maladjustment, peer rejection, academic underachievement, low self-esteem, and delinquent behaviours. Emotions and self-regulatory control have been recognized to play significant roles in the development of adaptive and maladaptive behaviours. However, few studies have examined how emotions and self-regulatory control interact and contribute to the manifestations of elevated maladaptive behaviours among children with ADHD. Hence, the current study adopts a correlational, cross-sectional design to investigate the relation between emotional dispositions and maladaptive behaviours in children with ADHD by examining the two self-regulatory systems, namely effortful control and reactive control. Children were recruited from local schools and online social platforms. A total of 194 children with ADHD and 73 neurotypical children (aged 8 – 15) were included in the data analysis after screening their ADHD symptoms, neuropsychological profile and intelligence. Results showed that the ADHD group displayed elevated externalizing behaviours, higher negative emotionality and poorer self-regulatory control compared to the control group. Within the ADHD group, negative emotionality was a significant predictor of maladaptive behaviours, moderated by self-regulatory control (i.e., the relation between negative emotionality and maladaptive behaviours was stronger when the children showed poorer self-regulatory control). This study supports poorer self-regulatory control as a risk factor for children with ADHD to develop maladaptive behaviours and provides valuable insights for designing suitable interventions.</p>