Functional Impairment Related to ADHD from Preschool to School Age

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Functional Impairment Related to ADHD from Preschool to School Age
Language: English
Authors: Kristin Romvig Overgaard (ORCID 0000-0002-8150-9030), Beate Oerbeck, Svein Friis, Are Hugo Pripp, Heidi Aase, Christine Baalsrud Ingeborgrud, Guido Biele
Source: Journal of Attention Disorders. 2025 29(3):220-230.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Descriptors: Executive Function, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Preschool Children, Elementary School Students, Student Adjustment, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Anxiety Disorders, Quality of Life, Teacher Attitudes, Play, Learning Problems, Friendship, Comorbidity, Parent Attitudes, Prediction, Behavior Problems, Correlation, Gender Differences, Longitudinal Studies, Foreign Countries, Behavior Disorders, Psychological Testing
Geographic Terms: Norway
DOI: 10.1177/10870547241301179
ISSN: 1087-0547
1557-1246
Abstract: Objective: Children with ADHD often experience functional impairments across various aspects of daily life. This study addresses the dearth of longitudinal research on functional impairment trajectories from preschool to school age in children with symptoms of ADHD and comorbid disorders. Methods: We investigated the extent to which functional impairments were associated with ADHD symptoms, along with behavioral and anxiety symptoms, from age 3.5 to 8 years. Utilizing parent- and teacher-reported data, we analyzed associations between global impairment, and dimension scores (e.g., family; child quality of life (QoL); learning; play/leisure activities; and friends) and symptoms at ages 3.5 and 8 years (n = 783). Results: The mean parent global impairment score increased from 0.31 (standard deviation (SD) = 0.40) to 0.83 (SD = 0.63) from 3.5 to 8 years, while the teacher impairment scores slightly decreased. Specific parent impairment dimension scores, particularly QoL, learning, and friends, significantly increased. Preschool ADHD and comorbid behavioral symptoms reported by parents weakly predicted impairment at 8 years. By age 8 years, impairment and symptoms exhibited moderate to strong correlations for all impairment dimensions. Parents reported greater child impairment during school age across settings compared to preschool, while teachers' impairment profiles remained consistent across ages. Conclusions: These findings suggest that parents perceive impairment as more pronounced at age 8 years and more strongly associated with symptoms of both ADHD and comorbid disorders than at age 3.5 years. Notably, for teachers, a robust correlation between inattention symptoms and learning impairment was observed, with substantially higher impairment scores reported for boys compared to girls.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1455621
Database: ERIC
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Description
Abstract:Objective: Children with ADHD often experience functional impairments across various aspects of daily life. This study addresses the dearth of longitudinal research on functional impairment trajectories from preschool to school age in children with symptoms of ADHD and comorbid disorders. Methods: We investigated the extent to which functional impairments were associated with ADHD symptoms, along with behavioral and anxiety symptoms, from age 3.5 to 8 years. Utilizing parent- and teacher-reported data, we analyzed associations between global impairment, and dimension scores (e.g., family; child quality of life (QoL); learning; play/leisure activities; and friends) and symptoms at ages 3.5 and 8 years (n = 783). Results: The mean parent global impairment score increased from 0.31 (standard deviation (SD) = 0.40) to 0.83 (SD = 0.63) from 3.5 to 8 years, while the teacher impairment scores slightly decreased. Specific parent impairment dimension scores, particularly QoL, learning, and friends, significantly increased. Preschool ADHD and comorbid behavioral symptoms reported by parents weakly predicted impairment at 8 years. By age 8 years, impairment and symptoms exhibited moderate to strong correlations for all impairment dimensions. Parents reported greater child impairment during school age across settings compared to preschool, while teachers' impairment profiles remained consistent across ages. Conclusions: These findings suggest that parents perceive impairment as more pronounced at age 8 years and more strongly associated with symptoms of both ADHD and comorbid disorders than at age 3.5 years. Notably, for teachers, a robust correlation between inattention symptoms and learning impairment was observed, with substantially higher impairment scores reported for boys compared to girls.
ISSN:1087-0547
1557-1246
DOI:10.1177/10870547241301179