UNDERSTANDING AND PREDICTING THE EARLY COURSE OF SYMPTOMS OF ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

by von Stauffenberg, Camilla

Using data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care, we examined whether: 1) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms remain stable from preschool (54 months) through early school age (1st grade); 2) preschool behavioral inhibition moderates the relationship between preschool and first grade ADHD symptomatology; and 3) deficits in behavioral inhibition at preschool age mediate the relationship between ADHD symptomatology assessed at preschool and first grade. Modest stability in ADHD symptoms from 54 months to 1st grade was found. Two out of three measures of inhibition predicted later teacher ratings uniquely. However, no evidence of moderation or mediation was found. Results are discussed in terms of executive and motivational facets of inhibition that may be related to early signs of ADHD.