Inhibitory Control Mediates the Association Between Emotion Dysregulation and Symptoms of ADHD and ODD in Children with Disruptive Behavior

• Published in: Advances in neurodevelopmental disorders 2023-12, Vol.7 (4), p.579-590
• Main Authors: Singh, Anneesa D., Bedard, Anne-Claude V., Andrade, Brendan F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Behavior disorders; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child and School Psychology; Children & youth; Comorbidity; Developmental Psychology; Emotional regulation; Emotions; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Psychiatry; Psychology; Public Health; Social Work
• ISSN: 2366-7532; 2366-7540
• DOI: 10.1007/s41252-023-00324-7

Objectives Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) show emotion dysregulation and underdeveloped inhibitory control associated with impairment in social, academic, and family functioning. The present study investigated whether inhibitory control mediates the association between emotion dysregulation and symptoms of ADHD and ODD in clinic referred children with disruptive behavior. Methods Standardized questionnaires and structured interviews were used to collect parent and teacher ratings of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral difficulties in a clinical sample of 297 children ( M age = 8.24 (1.7); 79.3% male) with disruptive behavior. Results Inhibitory control mediated the relationship between parent- and teacher-reported emotion dysregulation and symptoms of ADHD and ODD in children with disruptive behavior. Conclusions Findings provide theoretical support for the role of emotional and cognitive mechanisms in ADHD and ODD. Additionally, findings suggest that emotion dysregulation and inhibitory control may be important targets for psychosocial interventions for children with ADHD and/or ODD symptoms.