ADHD Symptomatology, Executive Function and Cognitive Performance Differences between Family Foster Care and Control Group in ADHD-Diagnosed Children
Children in foster care have a high prevalence of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, together with other difficulties in inattentive/hyperactive behaviors, executive and cognitive processes. Early exposure to adversity is a risk factor for developing ADHD via neurodevelop...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/5/405 |
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| author | María Peñarrubia Ignasi Navarro-Soria Jesús Palacios Javier Fenollar-Cortés |
| author_facet | María Peñarrubia Ignasi Navarro-Soria Jesús Palacios Javier Fenollar-Cortés |
| author_sort | María Peñarrubia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Children in foster care have a high prevalence of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, together with other difficulties in inattentive/hyperactive behaviors, executive and cognitive processes. Early exposure to adversity is a risk factor for developing ADHD via neurodevelopmental pathways. The goal of this research is (a) to study the cognitive and executive performance and inattentive/hyperactive behavior of ADHD-diagnosed children living in foster families in Spain, and (b) to analyze the role of placement variables in their performance. The sample was composed of 102 ADHD-diagnosed children aged 6- to 12-years-old, divided into two groups: 59 children living with non-relative foster families and 43 children not involved with protection services. Children’s executive function–inhibition, working memory, flexibility, attention, intellectual capacity, verbal comprehension, perceptive reasoning, working memory and processing speed were assessed using objective testing measures. At the same time, parents and teachers reported on children’s inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. Children in foster care obtained lower scores in the general ability index than the control group after controlling the age at assessment. However, no differences were found in executive processes. Regarding placement factors, children with shorter exposure to adversities in their birth families and more time in foster care showed better executive performance. Professionals should consider the placement history of children in foster care and its influence on their symptomatology and cognitive capacities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:20:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ff137d5bea7243b386379796c21332b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:20:35Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff137d5bea7243b386379796c21332b82023-11-21T20:07:38ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672021-05-018540510.3390/children8050405ADHD Symptomatology, Executive Function and Cognitive Performance Differences between Family Foster Care and Control Group in ADHD-Diagnosed ChildrenMaría Peñarrubia0Ignasi Navarro-Soria1Jesús Palacios2Javier Fenollar-Cortés3Department of Psychology, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Avda. de las Universidades s/n, Dos Hermanas, 41704 Seville, SpainDepartment of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Alacant, Ctra. Sant Vicent del Raspeig s/n, San Vicente, 03690 Alacant, SpainDepartment of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Seville, C/Camilo José Cela s/n, 41018 Seville, SpainDepartment of Psychology, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Avda. de las Universidades s/n, Dos Hermanas, 41704 Seville, SpainChildren in foster care have a high prevalence of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, together with other difficulties in inattentive/hyperactive behaviors, executive and cognitive processes. Early exposure to adversity is a risk factor for developing ADHD via neurodevelopmental pathways. The goal of this research is (a) to study the cognitive and executive performance and inattentive/hyperactive behavior of ADHD-diagnosed children living in foster families in Spain, and (b) to analyze the role of placement variables in their performance. The sample was composed of 102 ADHD-diagnosed children aged 6- to 12-years-old, divided into two groups: 59 children living with non-relative foster families and 43 children not involved with protection services. Children’s executive function–inhibition, working memory, flexibility, attention, intellectual capacity, verbal comprehension, perceptive reasoning, working memory and processing speed were assessed using objective testing measures. At the same time, parents and teachers reported on children’s inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. Children in foster care obtained lower scores in the general ability index than the control group after controlling the age at assessment. However, no differences were found in executive processes. Regarding placement factors, children with shorter exposure to adversities in their birth families and more time in foster care showed better executive performance. Professionals should consider the placement history of children in foster care and its influence on their symptomatology and cognitive capacities.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/5/405attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)executive functionintellectual capacityfoster careplacement variables |
| spellingShingle | María Peñarrubia Ignasi Navarro-Soria Jesús Palacios Javier Fenollar-Cortés ADHD Symptomatology, Executive Function and Cognitive Performance Differences between Family Foster Care and Control Group in ADHD-Diagnosed Children Children attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) executive function intellectual capacity foster care placement variables |
| title | ADHD Symptomatology, Executive Function and Cognitive Performance Differences between Family Foster Care and Control Group in ADHD-Diagnosed Children |
| title_full | ADHD Symptomatology, Executive Function and Cognitive Performance Differences between Family Foster Care and Control Group in ADHD-Diagnosed Children |
| title_fullStr | ADHD Symptomatology, Executive Function and Cognitive Performance Differences between Family Foster Care and Control Group in ADHD-Diagnosed Children |
| title_full_unstemmed | ADHD Symptomatology, Executive Function and Cognitive Performance Differences between Family Foster Care and Control Group in ADHD-Diagnosed Children |
| title_short | ADHD Symptomatology, Executive Function and Cognitive Performance Differences between Family Foster Care and Control Group in ADHD-Diagnosed Children |
| title_sort | adhd symptomatology executive function and cognitive performance differences between family foster care and control group in adhd diagnosed children |
| topic | attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) executive function intellectual capacity foster care placement variables |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/5/405 |
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