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Pervasive and situational hyperactivity--confounding effect of informant: a research note
E J Costello1, R Loeber, M Stouthamer-Loeber
1Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
Summary
Children with hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention (HIA) may not have more severe issues if symptoms occur in multiple settings. Informant bias in parent and teacher reports can influence these findings in HIA research.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Studies suggest hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention (HIA) symptoms are more severe when present in multiple settings.
- This often correlates with increased conduct problems, emotional symptoms, and functional impairment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the perceived severity of HIA is influenced by the informant (parent vs. teacher).
- To examine the impact of situational versus pervasive HIA on psychopathology and impairment, considering informant bias.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of parent and teacher reports from a community sample of 480 children aged 7-11.
- Comparison of psychopathology and impairment scores between children with situational HIA (home vs. school) and pervasive HIA.
- Inclusion of information sources independent of parent or teacher judgments.
Main Results:
- Scores on psychopathology and impairment varied based on the informant (parent or teacher) for situational HIA subgroups.
- When information sources were independent of parents' or teachers' judgments, no significant differences were found between situationally and pervasively HIA children.
Conclusions:
- Informant bias may confound previous findings on the severity of pervasive HIA compared to situational HIA.
- Future research on situational and pervasive HIA should carefully consider and control for informant perspectives to ensure accurate assessments.
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