ADHD in Children
Visual Abstract
Self-Esteem Evaluation in Children and Adolescents Suffering from ADHD
Self-esteem in Children with ADHD
Luigi Mazzone,,* Valentina Postorino, Laura Reale, Manuela Guarnera, Valeria Mannino, Marco Armando, Laura Fatta, Lavinia De Peppo, and Stefano Vicari
Summarized by:
September 13, 2023
study source
Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health
Jul 2013
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What they studied
The researchers aimed to explore the relationship between ADHD severity, treatment strategies, and self-esteem in children and adolescents.
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What they found
ADHD patients had lower self-esteem compared to controls; methylphenidate treatment could possibly boost self-esteem more than atomoxetine.
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What this means
Identifying and addressing low self-esteem early in ADHD patients could potentially reduce the disorder's long-term impacts.
Self-Esteem Evaluation in Children and Adolescents Suffering from ADHD
Objectives
Many studies have examined the connection between ADHD and self-esteem. But the link is not yet clear.
In this study, researchers examined self-esteem among children and teenagers with ADHD. In particular, they examined the link between self-esteem and ADHD symptoms and treatment.
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Independently of the controversial results, all the studies finally agreed that a positive self-esteem may help children with ADHD to cope with failures or difficulties in everyday life, thus emphasizing the importance of self-esteem for performance and outcomes in ADHD patients
Study Quote
Several recent studies investigated the relationship between self-esteem and ADHD, however, the results are still controversial. In the present study we analyze the characteristics of self-esteem in a sample of children and adolescents suffering from ADHD, with a particular focus on the ...
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Methods
The researchers gathered 85 individuals with ADHD, some on medication and some not, along with 26 healthy individuals. They used a specific test called the Self-esteem Multidimensional Test (TMA) to measure and analyze the self-esteem levels of everyone involved in the study.
Study Quote
A total of 85 patients with ADHD (44 drug-free and 41 drug-treated, 23 of which atomoxetine-treated and 18 Methylphenidate-treated) and 26 healthy controls were enrolled in the study in order to evaluate self-esteem using the Self-esteem Multidimensional Test (TMA).
Results
The results showed that those with ADHD had lower levels of self-esteem on every test that was used.
Nearly half of children with ADHD had low self-esteem. Only 8.8% of healthy children had low self-esteem using the same criteria.
Interestingly, Ritalin was linked with higher self-esteem than Strattera in this study.
Study Quote
ADHD subjects revealed lower scores on all self-esteem domains compared to controls. Both ADHD drug-free (47.1%) and ADHD drug-treated (44.1%) groups showed significantly higher rates of subjects in the pathological range as compared to normal control group (8.8%) (p <.001) with a higher...
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Conclusions
Based on these results, researchers concluded that those with ADHD are more likely to have lower self-esteem.
One possible reason may be that ADHD affects our ability to interact with our friends and maintain our relationships. This can lower self-esteem:
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The ability to successfully interact with peers, one of the most important aspects of social development for all ages, can also be impaired in ADHD children and this deficit in peer relationships can compromise interpersonal success and happiness thus leading to a low self-esteem.
Fortunately, research shows that social skills can be trained in those with ADHD:
Study Quote
A lower self-esteem profile is more common in subjects suffering from ADHD than in healthy controls, suggesting the importance of an early detection of psychological well-being in these children in order to reduce the ADHD symptoms long-term impacts.