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Updated: May 10, 2026
08:25
Measuring Attentional Biases for Threat in Children and Adults
Published on: October 19, 2014
A dispositional trait framework elucidates differences between interview and questionnaire measurement of childhood
Kathrin Herzhoff1, Jennifer L Tackett, Michelle M Martel
1Department of Psychology, University of Houston.
Psychological Assessment
|June 5, 2013
Summary
Current attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) measures have limitations. This study found that low Conscientiousness/Effortful Control and high Neuroticism/Negative Affect uniquely relate to the CBCL Attention Problem score, while only low Conscientiousness/Effortful Control relates to DSM-IV-TR ADHD symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Existing measures for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not fully capture all diagnostic criteria.
- Reconciling differences across ADHD assessment tools is crucial for accurate diagnosis and research.
- A dispositional trait framework can illuminate discrepancies between different ADHD measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine differences in the ADHD construct as assessed by two common measures using a dispositional trait framework.
- To investigate how specific personality traits relate to attention problems measured by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and DSM-IV-TR criteria.
Main Methods:
- Parents of 346 children (ages 7-12) completed the CBCL, a DSM-IV-TR clinical interview, and dispositional trait questionnaires.
- Statistical analyses were performed to identify unique associations between dispositional traits and attention problem scores.
Main Results:
- Low Conscientiousness/Effortful Control and high Neuroticism/Negative Affect were strongly and uniquely associated with the CBCL Attention Problem score.
- Only low Conscientiousness/Effortful Control showed a strong, unique association with ADHD symptoms assessed via DSM-IV-TR clinical interview.
Conclusions:
- Dispositional traits like Conscientiousness/Effortful Control and Neuroticism/Negative Affect differentially relate to attention problems depending on the assessment method.
- Understanding these discriminant correlates is vital for integrating data across different ADHD measures in research and clinical practice.
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