Emotional reactivity in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder. Jensen SA, Rosen LA.
Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523,
USA.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined Barkley's (1997b) theory regarding the
emotional regulation of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD). METHOD: Mothers of children with and without ADHD between the ages of
6 and 15 were asked to rate their child's emotional response on each of three
measures.
RESULTS: Children with ADHD were rated as significantly more
emotionally reactive to both immediate and future events than were children
without ADHD. Differences at both the immediate and future time periods were
stronger in response to negative as opposed to positive emotional events. In
response to the consequences of their behavior, however, children with ADHD
were rated as less emotionally reactive than children without ADHD.
DISCUSSION: Conclusions are made in reference to Barkley's theory and
implications are explored.