Dados do Trabalho

Título

RESILIENCE AND VULNERABILITY IN ADOLESCENTS WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER: A POPULATION-BASED STUDY

Introdução

To the best of our knowledge, no population-based study has investigated resilience resources (RR) and vulnerability risk (VR) in children and adolescents with Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), hindering the development of a risk-resilience model for potential interventions.

Objetivo

Herein, RR and VR were assessed in adolescents with ADHD and controls in a cross-sectional population-based study with adolescents.

Método

The Resiliency Scale for Children and Adolescents was completed by adolescents. Sociodemographic, school performance, and mental health data were obtained by validated questionnaires completed by parents and teachers. Linear models (t-tests and ANOVA) were applied to compare the RR and VR profiles between 1) ADHD vs. non-ADHD controls; and
2) adolescents with other psychosocial adjustment problems without ADHD (OPAD) vs. adolescents without psychosocial adjustment problems (typical). Welch's correction was used when necessary to calculate p-values.

Resultados e Conclusões

Consents and analyzable data were obtained from 339 adolescents (80.3% of the target sample), 53% females, aged 10-18 years (M=13.8, SD=2.0). DSM-5 criteria for ADHD were met by 2.9%. Adolescents with ADHD showed lower RR (p<0.001), but no significant difference in VR (p=0.073) compared to non-ADHD controls. Adolescents in the OPAD group, demonstrated lower RR (p=0.01), and higher VR (p<0.001) compared to typical. Compared to OPAD, adolescents with ADHD had a lower sense of relatedness.

Adolescents with ADHD present lower RR compared to non-ADHD peers. Adolescents with other psychosocial adjustment problems have lower RR and higher VR in relation to typical development colleagues. These original findings have immediate clinical implications, since they reveal specific profiles of resilience and vulnerability in adolescents with ADHD and other psychosocial adjustment problems, supporting novel emerging potential targets for intervention in these vulnerable groups.

Palavras Chave

Resilience; Vulnerability; Development; ADHD

Declaração de conflito de interesses de TODOS os autores

The authors declare no conflict of interest.