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Predicting ADHD Symptoms in Adolescence from Early Childhood Temperament Traits

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Abstract

Extreme levels of certain temperament traits can be early markers of different developmental pathways of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the long-term utility of using these traits as predictors of ADHD is not fully known. This study includes 64 male adolescents (M age = 13.5), who have been followed since birth as part of a longitudinal study. The primary aim was to test effortful control (EC), activity level, and anger, measured in early childhood – both with mother’s reports and laboratory assessments –as predictors of ADHD symptoms in adolescence. Further, we investigated the specificity of this prediction to the different ADHD symptom domains. The results demonstrated that early temperament dimensions of EC and activity level were predictive of ADHD symptoms about 10 years later, when the participants reached adolescence. Moreover, activity level showed specificity only to hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms whereas EC was a predictor of the two symptom domains. Anger had a predictive correlation with ADHD symptoms; however, it did not have a unique predictive contribution. These results emphasize the relevance of EC and activity level in the developmental course of ADHD. Identification of early risk factors can lead to more efficient design and implementation of intervention programs.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Israel Science Foundation, grants 756/98-01, 869-01, and 1058/16. We would like to thank the families participating in the BIDS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84104, Beer Sheva, Israel

    Tzlil Einziger, Linoy Levi, Yael Zilberman-Hayun, Judith G. Auerbach, Naama Atzaba-Poria & Andrea Berger

  2. Soroka Medical Central, Beer Sheva, Israel

    Shoshana Arbelle

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  1. Tzlil Einziger
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  2. Linoy Levi
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  3. Yael Zilberman-Hayun
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  4. Judith G. Auerbach
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  5. Naama Atzaba-Poria
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  6. Shoshana Arbelle
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  7. Andrea Berger
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Correspondence to Tzlil Einziger.

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Einziger, T., Levi, L., Zilberman-Hayun, Y. et al. Predicting ADHD Symptoms in Adolescence from Early Childhood Temperament Traits. J Abnorm Child Psychol 46, 265–276 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-017-0287-4

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