Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 18, 2026
05:48
The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
Published on: June 12, 2020
6.3K
Developmental relations between ADHD and self-esteem: evaluating peer problems as a mediating mechanism.
Amanda Russell1, Dejla Hoxha2, Aja Murray3
1Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
|May 31, 2025
Summary
Adolescent attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are linked to peer problems and lower self-esteem. However, peer issues do not appear to mediate the relationship between ADHD symptoms and self-esteem development.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms often report lower self-esteem compared to their peers.
- Peer relationship difficulties are hypothesized as a potential mediator for this association.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental, bidirectional relationships among ADHD symptoms, peer problems, and self-esteem in adolescents.
- To examine whether peer problems mediate the longitudinal association between ADHD symptoms and self-esteem.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from a large UK longitudinal study (Millennium Cohort Study) with participants aged 11, 14, and 17.
- Employed Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Models (RI-CLPMs) to analyze reciprocal associations over time.
- Included a substantial sample size: 4912 males and 4825 females.
Main Results:
- Found evidence for reciprocal developmental associations between ADHD symptoms, peer problems, and self-esteem.
- Peer problems did not significantly mediate the relationship between ADHD symptoms and subsequent self-esteem.
- The inter-linkages suggest complex interplay rather than a simple causal pathway.
Conclusions:
- While ADHD symptoms, peer problems, and self-esteem are interconnected, peer problems do not mediate the developmental link from ADHD to self-esteem.
- Interventions could consider the interplay between these factors, potentially addressing self-esteem impacts of peer difficulties within social skills training.
- Further research with shorter time lags is recommended to refine understanding of these dynamic relationships.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:18Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
174
Self-esteem, a crucial component of psychological development, is significantly shaped by familial experiences. The early parent-child relationship serves as a foundational influence on a child's self-concept, with long-lasting effects extending into adolescence and adulthood.Parental Behaviors and Early Self-Esteem FormationEmpirical studies have identified four principal parental behaviors that foster healthy self-esteem in children. These include expressions of acceptance, affection, and...
174
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
5.7K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
5.7K
01:29Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model
284
The Self-Evaluation Maintenance (SEM) model offers a psychological framework to understand how individuals’ self-esteem is influenced by the achievements of others, particularly those with whom they share close personal bonds. The SEM model operates when personal rather than social identity guides individuals. Central to this model is the notion that individuals have an inherent desire to preserve a favorable self-image, which is continuously shaped by interpersonal comparisons and...
284
01:27Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison
241
Social comparison plays a fundamental role in the evaluation of personal success and self-worth. Rather than assessing our achievements in isolation, we interpret their significance relative to personal goals and critically in comparison to the performance of others. A grade of B in a mathematics exam might elicit pride if one's expectation was a C, yet result in disappointment if an A was anticipated or if peers achieved superior results. These comparative evaluations illustrate how both...
241
01:29Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects
291
Self-discrepancy theory explains how people compare their actual self to their ideal and ought selves and how mismatches between these self-guides can lead to emotional distress. Developed by E. Tory Higgins, the theory distinguishes among three components of self-concept: the actual self, the ideal self, and the ought self. These refer respectively to how individuals perceive themselves, how they aspire to be, and how they believe they are obligated to be. Emotional well-being, self-esteem,...
291
01:30Social Foundations of Self III: Self-Evaluation
184
Self-evaluation is the process by which individuals assess their abilities, behaviors, and characteristics based on feedback from others. Charles H. Cooley observed that a person’s self-perception is primarily influenced by how others see and judge them. He suggested that individuals form their identities based on their interpretations of others' reactions. As a result, social interactions play a crucial role in shaping self-esteem and personal identity. These external evaluations often...
184