Is self-esteem an important outcome in hyperactive children?
Using a prospective design, this study examined (a) whether hyperactive children suffer from low self-esteem as adolescents; (b) whether low self-esteem is associated with poor functioning in adolescence; (c) whether hyperactive children exhibit a positive illusory bias, in which self-esteem is independent of level of functioning; and (d) whether self-esteem in adolescence is associated with poor functioning in adulthood. Subjects were 65 children diagnosed as hyperactive in childhood, and 62 matched controls sampled from a medical clinic. After controlling for current mental disorder, the hyperactive cohort reported lower self-esteem in adolescence, was judged by clinicians to have lower levels of overall adjustment in adolescence, and had lower educational achievement and occupational rank in adulthood, as compared to controls.
Slomkowski
C
C
Department of Child Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA.
Klein
R G
RG
Mannuzza
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology*; D002321:Career Choice; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment