Effects of age on the mother-child interactions of ADD-H and normal boys

The interactions of 60 ADD-H boys with their mothers were compared to those of 60 normal boys during both free-play and task situations. Both groups were equally subdivided into five age levels (years 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9). In free play, ADD-H boys played more independently of and were more negative toward their mothers, while their mothers gave more commands and initiated fewer interactions than normal mother-child dyads. There were no effects of age in this setting. During the task setting, ADD-H boys were less compliant, sustained their compliance for shorter time periods, and were more negative and off task than the normal boys. Mothers of ADD-H boys gave more commands, were more negative, initiated fewer interactions, and responded with greater control over both compliance and off-task behavior than did normal mothers. Several age effects were noted suggesting that older boys in both groups were more compliant while their mothers gave fewer commands and controlled their compliance less than the mother-child dyads of younger boys. While the interactions of ADD-H boys appear to improve with age, the boys continue to display a developmental lag in social behavior that is more evident with increasing situational demands.