Interpersonal coping among boys with ADHD.
OBJECTIVE
The authors investigate self-reported coping with interpersonal stressors among boys with and without ADHD in two studies and provide initial evidence for effects of different subgroups of ADHD on coping in Study 2.


METHODS
In Study 1, 20 Austrian adolescents with ADHD were compared to 20 healthy controls. In Study 2, 44 German children and adolescents with ADHD (35 without and 9 with conduct disorders) were compared to 44 healthy controls matched by age and grade level, respectively.


RESULTS
Increased maladaptive coping was found in both studies. Study 2 revealed heightened maladaptive coping among both subgroups of ADHD, but the subgroup of ADHD with conduct disorders was more affected compared to healthy controls than the subgroup with ADHD alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest an impaired interpersonal coping style in ADHD and point to the potential benefit of stress management and social skills training for boys with ADHD. (
Hampel
Petra
P
Center of Clinical Psychology and Rehabilitation, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany. petra@uni-bremen.de
Manhal
Simone
S
Roos
Thomas
T
Desman
Christiane
C
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology