Emotional reactivity in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined Barkley's (1997b) theory regarding the emotional regulation of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).


METHODS
Mothers of children with and without ADHD between the ages of 6 and 15 were asked to rate their child's emotional response on each of three measures.


RESULTS
Children with ADHD were rated as significantly more emotionally reactive to both immediate and future events than were children without ADHD. Differences at both the immediate and future time periods were stronger in response to negative as opposed to positive emotional events. In response to the consequences of their behavior, however, children with ADHD were rated as less emotionally reactive than children without ADHD.


CONCLUSIONS
Conclusions are made in reference to Barkley's theory and implications are explored.
Jensen
S A
SA
Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Rosén
L A
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D015588:Observer Variation; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires