Objective: Parallels in findings of attachment and ADHD research suggest a connection between both constructs. However, the few articles dealing with that tie investigate children with all conceivable expressions of A...Objective: Parallels in findings of attachment and ADHD research suggest a connection between both constructs. However, the few articles dealing with that tie investigate children with all conceivable expressions of ADHD and have not found sufficient evidence regarding the connection between ADHD and attachment. This study sought to collect evidence of a possible connection between the two aspects among children with the predominantly inattentive ADHD type. Method: The sample consisted of 93 children aged 5 - 9 years, 48 of whom had an ADHD diagnosis of the predominantly inattentive type. Attachment was coded using the German adaptation of the Attachment Story Completion Task, externalizing behavior problems were rated using the Child Behavior Checklist 4 - 18. ADHD was assessed using both clinical diagnoses as well as the German ADHD Rating scale. Results: Results revealed a large difference in the distribution of attachment classification between children with ADHD and those without ADHD. Regression analysis, however, showed no independent effect on ADHD when externalizing behavior problems were controlled for. Conclusions: Both constructs seem to be connected, however, in the investigation of the influence of attachment on the disorder, ADHD as a global construct is too unspecific. As opposed to previous studies, considering only the inattentive type, the relation might completely be moderated by externalizing behavior problems. Subsequent studies should first focus on specific symptom patterns which at best should be analyzed within longitudinal studies.展开更多
文摘Objective: Parallels in findings of attachment and ADHD research suggest a connection between both constructs. However, the few articles dealing with that tie investigate children with all conceivable expressions of ADHD and have not found sufficient evidence regarding the connection between ADHD and attachment. This study sought to collect evidence of a possible connection between the two aspects among children with the predominantly inattentive ADHD type. Method: The sample consisted of 93 children aged 5 - 9 years, 48 of whom had an ADHD diagnosis of the predominantly inattentive type. Attachment was coded using the German adaptation of the Attachment Story Completion Task, externalizing behavior problems were rated using the Child Behavior Checklist 4 - 18. ADHD was assessed using both clinical diagnoses as well as the German ADHD Rating scale. Results: Results revealed a large difference in the distribution of attachment classification between children with ADHD and those without ADHD. Regression analysis, however, showed no independent effect on ADHD when externalizing behavior problems were controlled for. Conclusions: Both constructs seem to be connected, however, in the investigation of the influence of attachment on the disorder, ADHD as a global construct is too unspecific. As opposed to previous studies, considering only the inattentive type, the relation might completely be moderated by externalizing behavior problems. Subsequent studies should first focus on specific symptom patterns which at best should be analyzed within longitudinal studies.
