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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2007

Open Access 01-12-2007 | Research article

Do inattention and hyperactivity symptoms equal scholastic impairment? evidence from three European cohorts

Authors: Alina Rodriguez, Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, Carsten Obel, Anja Taanila, Jouko Miettunen, Irma Moilanen, Tine Brink Henriksen, Katri Pietiläinen, Hanna Ebeling, Arto J Kotimaa, Karen Markussen Linnet, Jørn Olsen

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2007

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Abstract

Background

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects many children, adolescents, and adults and is associated with a number of impairments. Poor academic performance is related to ADHD in clinical samples. However, it is unclear to what extent core ADHD symptoms and scholastic impairment are related in non-referred school-aged children.

Methods

Data come from three population-based cohorts from Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, which are part of the Nordic Network on ADHD. The combined sample size was 13,087 children who were studied at ages 7–8 or 10–12 years. Teachers rated children on inattention and hyperactivity symptoms and reported children's scholastic performance on basic skills.

Results

There was a significant association in all cohorts between core ADHD symptoms and scholastic impairment in reading, writing, and mathematics. Particularly, inattention was related to a two to tenfold increase in scholastic impairment. Prevalence of hyperactivity symptoms was similar across the three cohorts, but inattention was lowest among children from the Finnish cohort, after stratification on living conditions.

Conclusion

These results extend previous reports of scholastic impairment among children with clinically diagnosed ADHD to non-referred population samples from three European countries. Surveillance policies should be implemented in school systems to catch children in need of behavioral or scholastic support early.
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Metadata
Title
Do inattention and hyperactivity symptoms equal scholastic impairment? evidence from three European cohorts
Authors
Alina Rodriguez
Marjo-Riitta Järvelin
Carsten Obel
Anja Taanila
Jouko Miettunen
Irma Moilanen
Tine Brink Henriksen
Katri Pietiläinen
Hanna Ebeling
Arto J Kotimaa
Karen Markussen Linnet
Jørn Olsen
Publication date
01-12-2007
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2007
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-7-327

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