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The adolescent outcome of hyperactive girls

Self-reported interpersonal relationships and coping mechanisms

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to clarify the developmental risk for interpersonal relationship problems and ineffective coping strategies associated with hyperactive behaviour in girls in a longitudinal epidemiological design. This was investigated in a follow-up study of girls who were identified by parent and teacher ratings in a large community survey of 6- and 7-year-olds as showing pervasive hyperactivity or conduct problems or the comorbid mixture of both problems or neither problem. They were later investigated, at the age of 14–16 years, in a detailed interview. Childhood hyperactivity was a risk for disrupted relationships in adolescence with peers and the opposite sex, but not parents. Findings were independent of the existence of conduct problems. Hyperactivity was a risk for the use of a wide variety of ineffective coping strategies. On the other hand, conduct problem girls reported applying specific coping strategies, but rated these to be ineffective. It is concluded that early therapeutic interventions targeting the development of social skills and problem-solving skills are required in order to help overcome these problems in later life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, PO78, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK

    Susan Young & Oliver Chadwick

  2. Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Dr. Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK

    Ellen Heptinstall & Eric Taylor

  3. Development Brain and Behaviour Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

    Edmund J. S. Sonuga-Barke

Authors
  1. Susan Young
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  2. Oliver Chadwick
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  3. Ellen Heptinstall
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  4. Eric Taylor
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  5. Edmund J. S. Sonuga-Barke
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Correspondence to Susan Young.

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Young, S., Chadwick, O., Heptinstall, E. et al. The adolescent outcome of hyperactive girls. Europ.Child & Adolescent Psych 14, 245–253 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-005-0461-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-005-0461-z

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