Search

Mothers of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder were studied with regard to employment status, workplace characteristics, and depressive symptoms. Self-complexity theory proposes that complex self-representations buffer against depression; however, maternal employment may challenge mothers' ability to attend to the many needs of their children. Findings from our cross-sectional study of 176 mothers revealed that employed mothers reported fewer depressive symptoms than unemployed mothers and those employed part time, providing support for the self-complexity buffering hypothesis. Furthermore, low levels of parenting stress were associated with fewer depressive symptoms. Implications are provided for career counseling and future research.

Behavioral inhibition (BI) is a temperamental style characterized by cautious and fearful behaviors in novel situations. The present multi‐method, longitudinal study examined whether young children's observed and parent‐reported BI in social versus non‐social contexts predicts different long‐term psychosocial outcomes. Participants (N = 279) were drawn from a longitudinal study of socioemotional development. BI in social contexts ("social BI") was measured via children's observed wariness toward unfamiliar adults and peers at 24 and 36 months and parents' reports of children's social fear/shyness at 24, 36, and 48 months. BI in non‐social contexts ("non‐social BI") was measured via children's observed fearful responses to masks and novel toys, and parents' reports of children's distress to non‐social novelty at 9 months and non‐social fear at 48 months. At 15 years, anxiety was assessed via adolescent‐ and parent‐reports, and global internalizing and externalizing problems were assessed via parent‐reports. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that a two‐factor model fit the BI data significantly better than a single‐factor model, providing evidence for the dissociation of BI in social versus non‐social contexts. Social BI was uniquely associated with adolescent social anxiety, whereas non‐social BI was specifically associated with adolescent separation anxiety. Neither social BI nor non‐social BI predicted global internalizing and externalizing problems, providing evidence for the specific relations between BI and anxiety problems. Together, these results suggest that young children's inhibited responses in social versus non‐social situations predict different subtypes of anxiety problems in adolescence, highlighting the multifaceted nature of BI and the divergent trajectories of different anxiety problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavioral inhibition (BI) and maternal over-control are early risk factors for later childhood internalizing problems, particularly social anxiety disorder (SAD). Consistently high BI across childhood appears to confer risk for the onset of SAD by adolescence. However, no prior studies have prospectively examined observed maternal over-control as a risk factor for adolescent social anxiety (SA) among children initially selected for BI. The present prospective longitudinal study examines the direct and indirect relations between these early risk factors and adolescent SA symptoms and SAD, using a multi-method approach. The sample consisted of 176 participants initially recruited as infants and assessed for temperamental reactivity to novel stimuli at age 4 months. BI was measured via observations and parent-report across multiple assessments between the ages of 14 months and 7 years. Maternal over-control was assessed observationally during parent-child interaction tasks at 7 years. Adolescents (ages 14-17 years) and parents provided independent reports of adolescent SA symptoms. Results indicated that higher maternal over-control at 7 years predicted higher SA symptoms and lifetime rates of SAD during adolescence. Additionally, there was a significant interaction between consistently high BI and maternal over-control, such that patterns of consistently high BI predicted higher adolescent SA symptoms in the presence of high maternal over-control. High BI across childhood was not significantly associated with adolescent SA symptoms when children experienced low maternal over-control. These findings have the potential to inform prevention and early intervention programs by identifying particularly at-risk youth and specific targets of treatment. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.)

Introduction: Behavioral inhibition (BI) is a temperamental trait characterized by a bias to respond with patterns of fearful or anxious behavior when faced with unfamiliar situations, objects, or people. It has been suggested that children who are inhibited may experience early peer difficulties. However, researchers have yet to systematically compare BI versus typically developing children’s observed asocial and social behavior in familiar, naturalistic settings. Method: We compared the in-school behaviors of 130 (M=54 months, 52% female) highly inhibited preschoolers (identified using the parent-reported Behavioral Inhibition Questionnaire) to 145 (M= 53 months, 52% female) typically developing preschoolers. Both samples were observed on at least two different days for approximately 60 min. Observers used the Play Observation Scale to code children’s behavior in 10-s blocks during free play. Teachers completed two measures of children’s behavior in the classroom. Results: Regression models with robust standard errors controlling for child sex, age, and weekly hours in school revealed that preschoolers identified as BI engaged in significantly more observed reticent and solitary behavior, and less social play and teacher interaction than the typically developing sample. Children with BI also initiated social interaction with their peers and teachers less often than their counterparts who were not inhibited. Teachers reported that children identified as BI were more asocial and less prosocial than their non-BI counterparts. Discussion: Significantly, the findings indicated that inhibited children displayed more solitude in the context of familiar peers. Previous observational studies have indicated behavioral differences between BI and unfamiliar typical age-mates in novel laboratory settings. Children identified as BI did not receive fewer bids for social interaction than their typically developing peers, thereby suggesting that children who are inhibited have difficulty capitalizing on opportunities to engage in social interaction with familiar peers. These findings highlight the need for early intervention for children with BI to promote social engagement, given that the frequent expression of solitude in preschool has predicted such negative outcomes as peer rejection, negative self-regard, and anxiety during the elementary and middle school years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian American youth experience high rates of racism and mental health difficulties, yet are less likely to seek mental health services compared to their non-Asian peers. Due to restrictions on in-person interactions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, many mental health services have been delivered virtually since March 2020. Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) virtual training is a manualized program designed to educate adults on recognizing signs and symptoms of common adolescent mental health challenges, and how they could effectively intervene. However, there is no published research on the effectiveness of the YMHFA-virtual version. Also, there is limited research on the effectiveness of YMHFA among Asian Americans, a vulnerable population. Utilizing a pre-post design, we evaluated the effects of the virtual YMHFA that we adapted for Asian Americans. Thirty-five Asian/American adults (Mage = 47.0, SDage = 8.98) participated in the YMHFA-virtual training and completed pre- and post- surveys. Significant increases were found in participants' mental health literacy (MHL), mental health knowledge, confidence in using the mental health first aid skills, help-seeking intentions, and help-seeking attitudes, while a significant decrease was found in their stigma toward mental illnesses. The effect sizes varied from small (e.g., attitudes) to large (MHL and confidence in using MHFA skills). These promising findings have several implications. The culturally adapted YMHFA-virtual version may be an effective way to reach Asian Americans and promote mental health awareness, helpful attitudes, and confidence in supporting youth with mental health challenges in a culturally sensitive and non-threatening manner among this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant literature suggests that youth diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are at increased risk for later depression relative to youth without ADHD. Youth with co-occurring ADHD and depression experience more serious impairments and worse developmental outcomes than those with either disorder alone, including increased rates of suicidal ideation and suicide completion. Despite these very serious outcomes, few studies have examined the mechanisms underlying the relationship between ADHD and depression in youth. The present study examined emotion regulation (ER) as a mediator of the relationship between ADHD and depressive symptoms in 69 youth between the ages of 10 and 14, with (n = 37) and without (n = 32) ADHD. Parent and youth ratings of depressive symptoms and ER were collected. Youth with ADHD reported significantly more depressive symptoms and poorer ER ability relative to youth without ADHD. ER fully mediated the relationship between ADHD and depressive symptoms. Limitations and clinical implications are discussed.

Objective: The college years represent a developmental transition during which the initiation and escalation of heavy drinking set the stage for lifelong difficulties with alcohol and other drugs. Evidence from studies of adolescents and young adults with ADHD suggests that college students with the disorder may be uniquely vulnerable to alcohol- and drug-related problems. However, no studies have examined substance use in college students with ADHD. Method: Tobacco, alcohol, illicit drug use, and associated impairment were examined in 91 college students with (n = 53) and without (n = 38) ADHD. Results: ADHD was associated with increased frequency of tobacco use, higher rates of dangerous or hazardous patterns of alcohol use, and higher levels of impairment related to marijuana and nonmarijuana illicit drug use, independent of conduct disorder history. Conclusion: These findings suggest that college students with ADHD may be at elevated risk for problematic patterns of substance use. (Contains 4 tables.)

This study examined the extent to which maternal attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms predict improvement in child behavior following brief behavioral parent training. Change in parenting was examined as a potential mediator of the negative relationship between maternal ADHD symptoms and improvement in child behavior. Seventy mothers of 6-10 year old children with ADHD underwent a comprehensive assessment of adult ADHD prior to participating in an abbreviated parent training program. Before and after treatment, parenting was assessed via maternal reports and observations and child disruptive behavior was measured via maternal report. Controlling for pre-treatment levels, maternal ADHD symptomatology predicted post-treatment child disruptive behavior problems. The relation between maternal ADHD symptomatology and improvement in child behavior was mediated by change in observed maternal negative parenting. This study replicated findings linking maternal ADHD symptoms with attenuated child improvement following parent training, and is the first to demonstrate that negative parenting at least partially explains this relationship. Innovative approaches combining evidence-based treatment for adult ADHD with parent training may therefore be necessary for families in which both the mother and child have ADHD. Larger-scale studies using a full evidence-based parent training program are needed to replicate these findings.

This pilot study of 23 mothers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their offspring with ADHD examined the effects of maternal stimulant medication on observed interactions. Parent-child interactions were observed using a structured protocol before and after mothers underwent a 5-week, double-blind stimulant titration. Despite dramatic effects of medication on adult ADHD symptoms, this small pilot and open label laboratory-based study did not identify maternal stimulant effects on observed parenting or child behavior. Given the documented impairments in parenting displayed by adults with ADHD, behavioral parenting interventions may be needed in conjunction with medication for mothers with ADHD to optimize family outcomes. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)

The odds of a lifetime diagnosis of social anxiety disorder increased by 3.79 times for children who had a stable report of behavioral inhibition from their mothers. This finding has important implications for the early identification and prevention of social anxiety disorder.

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) evidence many problems in the classroom. Teacher in-service training is routinely used to inform school professionals about a number of special topics; however, the efficacy of such in-service training for ADHD has not been established. The present study examined the efficacy of brief in-service training focused on evidence-based assessment and treatment of ADHD. Teachers from six schools (N = 142) in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area were randomly assigned at the school level to receive in-service training immediately or to a waitlist control group that received in-service training 1 month later. Measures of ADHD knowledge and use of behavior modification techniques were obtained at pre- and post-in-service intervention. Results indicated that the in-service training resulted in increased ADHD knowledge. Special education teachers also reported increased use of behavior modification techniques resulting from the in-service training. Clinical and research implications are presented. (Contains 2 tables and 1 footnote.)

Mothers of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at increased risk for an ADHD diagnosis themselves, which is likely associated with impairments in parenting. The present study utilized a multi-method assessment of maternal ADHD and parenting to examine the extent to which maternal ADHD symptoms are associated with maladaptive parenting. Participants included 70 6-10 year old children with DSM-IV ADHD and their biological mothers. Results suggested that mothers with higher levels of ADHD symptoms reported lower levels of involvement and positive parenting and higher levels of inconsistent discipline. During observed parent-child interactions, maternal ADHD symptoms were negatively associated with positive parenting, and positively associated with negative parenting and repeated commands before giving the child an opportunity to comply. Given prior research suggesting that maladaptive parenting behaviors are risk factors for the later development of conduct problems among children with ADHD, these findings have important clinical implications for family-based assessment and treatment of ADHD.