Natalie V Miller1, Amie A Hane2, Kathryn A Degnan3, Nathan A Fox1, Andrea Chronis-Tuscano4. 1. Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA. 2. Department of Psychology, Williams College, Williamstown, MA, USA. 3. Department of Psychology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, USA. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex pathogenesis. Individual differences in temperamental reactivity - in particular, anger reactivity - are predictive of ADHD. The goal of this study was to examine the moderating (maternal caregiving behaviors; MCB) and mediating (inhibitory control) variables of reactivity using a 9-year multimethod prospective longitudinal design. METHODS: Participants included 291 children (135 male; 156 female) who participated in a larger study of temperament and social-emotional development. Anger reactivity was assessed by observation of facial anger during an arm restraint task, and MCB were observed during a series of semi-structured mother-infant tasks, both at 9 months of age. Inhibitory control was assessed by performance on a go/no-go task at 5 years of age. ADHD symptoms were assessed by parent and teacher report questionnaires at 7 and 9 years, respectively. RESULTS: Anger reactivity and poor inhibitory control were predictive of later ADHD symptoms. Results supported a moderated mediation model, in which the indirect effects of anger reactivity on ADHD symptoms through inhibitory control were conditional on quality of early MCB. Inhibitory control mediated the effect of anger reactivity on ADHD symptoms, but only among children exposed to lower-quality MCB. CONCLUSIONS: Infant anger reactivity exerts a direct effect on later ADHD from infancy, suggesting anger reactivity as a very early indicator of ADHD risk. Higher-quality caregiving did not buffer against the direct risk of anger reactivity on ADHD but did buffer against the indirect risk by reducing the negative effect of anger reactivity on inhibitory control. Thus, in the developmental pathway from anger reactivity to ADHD, more sensitive, less intrusive parenting supports the development of protective mechanisms (i.e. inhibitory control) to remediate ADHD risk.
BACKGROUND:ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex pathogenesis. Individual differences in temperamental reactivity - in particular, anger reactivity - are predictive of ADHD. The goal of this study was to examine the moderating (maternal caregiving behaviors; MCB) and mediating (inhibitory control) variables of reactivity using a 9-year multimethod prospective longitudinal design. METHODS:Participants included 291 children (135 male; 156 female) who participated in a larger study of temperament and social-emotional development. Anger reactivity was assessed by observation of facial anger during an arm restraint task, and MCB were observed during a series of semi-structured mother-infant tasks, both at 9 months of age. Inhibitory control was assessed by performance on a go/no-go task at 5 years of age. ADHD symptoms were assessed by parent and teacher report questionnaires at 7 and 9 years, respectively. RESULTS: Anger reactivity and poor inhibitory control were predictive of later ADHD symptoms. Results supported a moderated mediation model, in which the indirect effects of anger reactivity on ADHD symptoms through inhibitory control were conditional on quality of early MCB. Inhibitory control mediated the effect of anger reactivity on ADHD symptoms, but only among children exposed to lower-quality MCB. CONCLUSIONS:Infant anger reactivity exerts a direct effect on later ADHD from infancy, suggesting anger reactivity as a very early indicator of ADHD risk. Higher-quality caregiving did not buffer against the direct risk of anger reactivity on ADHD but did buffer against the indirect risk by reducing the negative effect of anger reactivity on inhibitory control. Thus, in the developmental pathway from anger reactivity to ADHD, more sensitive, less intrusive parenting supports the development of protective mechanisms (i.e. inhibitory control) to remediate ADHD risk.
Authors: Erik G Willcutt; Alysa E Doyle; Joel T Nigg; Stephen V Faraone; Bruce F Pennington Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2005-06-01 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: J M Swanson; H C Kraemer; S P Hinshaw; L E Arnold; C K Conners; H B Abikoff; W Clevenger; M Davies; G R Elliott; L L Greenhill; L Hechtman; B Hoza; P S Jensen; J S March; J H Newcorn; E B Owens; W E Pelham; E Schiller; J B Severe; S Simpson; B Vitiello; K Wells; T Wigal; M Wu Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2001-02 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Ruth Sellers; Gordon T Harold; Anita Thapar; Jenae M Neiderhiser; Jody M Ganiban; David Reiss; Daniel S Shaw; Misaki N Natsuaki; Leslie D Leve Journal: Behav Genet Date: 2020-07-04 Impact factor: 2.805
Authors: Gabriela L Suarez; Santiago Morales; Natalie V Miller; Elizabeth C Penela; Andrea Chronis-Tuscano; Heather A Henderson; Nathan A Fox Journal: Dev Psychol Date: 2021-08
Authors: Mazneen Havewala; Nicole E Lorenzo; Kaylee Seddio; Lauren E Oddo; Danielle R Novick; Nathan A Fox; Andrea Chronis-Tuscano Journal: Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol Date: 2022-01-22
Authors: Patrick K Goh; Tess E Smith; Christine A Lee; Pevitr S Bansal; Ashley G Eng; Michelle M Martel Journal: J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol Date: 2021-08-04