title: Childhood attention problems and socioeconomic status in adulthood: 18-year follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been associated with socioeconomic difficulties later in life. Little research in this area has been based on longitudinal and community studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between childhood attention problems and socioeconomic status 18 years later.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a French community sample of 1103 youths followed from 1991 to 2009, we tested associations between childhood attention problems and socioeconomic status between ages 22 and 35 years, adjusting for potential childhood and family confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals with high levels of childhood attention problems were three times more likely to experience subsequent socioeconomic disadvantage than those with low levels of attention problems (odds ratio 3.44, 95% CI 1.72-6.92). This association remained statistically significant even after adjusting for childhood externalising problems, low family income, parental divorce and parental alcohol problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This longitudinal community-based study shows an association between childhood attention problems and socioeconomic disadvantage in adulthood. Taking into account ADHD and associated difficulties could help reduce the long-term socioeconomic burden of the disorder.
authors.affiliation: University Bordeaux Segalen, INSERM U897, France. cedric.galera@u-bordeaux2.fr
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galéra
authors.forename: Manuel-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bouvard
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lagarde
authors.forename: Grégory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Touchette
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fombonne
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melchior
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012923:Social Class; D055815:Young Adult