The relationship between competence-support/-thwarting and ADHD symptoms in children and the mediating effect of self-control
Keywords
No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Issue Date
2018-02-05
Language
en
Document type
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Title
ISSN
Volume
Issue
Startpage
Endpage
DOI
Abstract
To understand better the role basic psychological need satisfaction versus frustration may play
in ADHD symptoms in children, this study researched the relationship between competencesupport/–
thwarting and ADHD symptoms in children, based on the Self-Determination
Theory (SDT). Self-control was included as a possible mediator. Participants (n=43) were
Dutch school children aged 8-13. Competence-support and –thwarting were measured with
children and parents ratings, using a Dutch translation for the Interpersonal Behaviors
Questionnaire (IBQ). Additionally, parents rated child ADHD symptoms using the Strengths
and Weaknesses of ADHD symptoms and Normal behavior (SWAN), and self-control was
measured using the percentage false alarms on a go/no-go task.
Competence-thwarting, but only when assessed by parents, correlated negatively with child
ADHD symptoms. Competence-support did not correlate significantly with ADHD
symptoms, and self-control did not correlate significantly with competence-support,
competence-thwarting or ADHD symptoms. Self-control did not mediate the association
between competence thwarting and ADHD symptoms. In conclusion, higher levels of
competence-thwarting correlated with ADHD symptoms, but self-control did not play a
mediating role in this association. Because no claims regarding directionality could be made,
longitudinal research is needed to determine whether parents’ competence thwarting leads to
higher levels of ADHD in their child over time, or whether children’s ADHD symptoms
predict parents’ competence thwarting over time, or whether this association may be
bidirectional in nature. Eventually, this work may inform interventions that focus on
enhancing parenting strategies in parents of children with ADHD.
Description
Citation
Supervisor
Faculty
Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen