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Peer dislike and victimisation in pathways from ADHD symptoms to depression

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Abstract

The following hypotheses were tested in a longitudinal, population-based study: (1) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are associated with peer dislike and victimisation; (2) Peer dislike and victimisation increase the risk for subsequent depression; and (3) The effect of ADHD symptoms on depression is partly mediated through peer dislike and victimisation. Gender differences in mediating pathways through peer dislike and victimisation to depression were additionally explored. The Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), Youth Self Report (YSR) and Teacher’s Checklist of Pathology (TCP) assessed ADHD symptoms in 728 adolescents. Peer nominations were used to assess peer dislike and victimisation. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to assess depression. Effects of peer dislike, victimisation, and ADHD symptoms on depression were modelled using Cox regression. ADHD symptoms were associated with peer dislike (rs = 0.17, p < 0.001) and victimisation (rs = 0.11, p = 0.001). Dislike, victimisation, and ADHD symptoms increased risk for depression. Risk for depression associated with victimisation and ADHD symptoms reduced with time. Dislike and victimisation mediated 7 % of the effect of ADHD symptoms on depression. Pathways through dislike and victimisation were present in girls but not in boys. Peer dislike and victimisation explain, to a limited extent, the prospective association between ADHD and depression, particularly in girls.

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Abbreviations

ADHD:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

MDE:

Major depressive episode

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Acknowledgments

This research is part of the TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS), and was made possible by various grants from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (Medical Research Council program grant GB-MW 940-38-011; ZonMW Brainpower grant 100-001-004; Social Sciences Council medium-sized investment grants GB-MaGW 480-01-006 and GB-MaGW 480-07-001; Social Sciences Council project grant GB-MaGW 452-04-314, NWO large-sized investment grant 175.010.2003.005); the Dutch Ministry of Justice (WODC), the European Science Foundation (EuroSTRESS project FP-006), the University Medical Centre and University of Groningen, the Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, University of Utrecht, Radboud Medical Centre Nijmegen, and Parnassia Bavo group. We are grateful to all participating adolescents and parents and to everyone who worked on this project and made it possible.

Conflict of interest

This research is part of the TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS). Participating centers of TRAILS include various departments of the University Medical Center and University of Groningen, the Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, the University of Utrecht, the Radboud Medical Center Nijmegen, and the Parnassia Bavo group, all in the Netherlands. TRAILS has been financially supported by various grants from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (Medical Research Council program grant GB-MW 940-38-011; ZonMW Brainpower grant 100-001-004; ZonMw Risk Behavior and Dependence grants 60-60600-98-018 and 60-60600-97-118; ZonMw Culture and Health grant 261-98-710; Social Sciences Council medium-sized investment grants GB-MaGW 480-01-006 and GB-MaGW 480-07-001; Social Sciences Council project grants GB-MaGW 457-03-018, GB-MaGW 452-04-314, and GB-MaGW 452-06-004; NWO large-sized investment grant 175.010.2003.005; NWO Longitudinal Survey and Panel Funding 481-08-013); the Sophia Foundation for Medical Research (projects 301 and 393), the Dutch Ministry of Justice (WODC), the European Science Foundation (EuroSTRESS project FP-006), and the participating universities. The authors report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), Groningen, The Netherlands

    Arunima Roy, Catharina A. Hartman & Albertine J. Oldehinkel

  2. Interuniversity Centre for Social Science Theory and Methodology, Department of Sociology, University of Groningen, Grote Rozenstraat 31, 9712 TG, Groningen, The Netherlands

    René Veenstra

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  1. Arunima Roy
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  2. Catharina A. Hartman
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  4. Albertine J. Oldehinkel
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Correspondence to Arunima Roy.

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Roy, A., Hartman, C.A., Veenstra, R. et al. Peer dislike and victimisation in pathways from ADHD symptoms to depression. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 24, 887–895 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-014-0633-9

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