Co-occurring Mental Health Problems and Peer Functioning Among Youth with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Review and Recommendations for Future Research

• Published in: Clinical child and family psychology review 2012-12, Vol.15 (4), p.279-302
• Main Authors: Becker, Stephen P., Luebbe, Aaron M., Langberg, Joshua M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Development; Adolescents; Affective Behavior; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - complications; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Attribution Theory; Behavior Problems; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child and School Psychology; Children; Children & youth; Comorbidity; Depression (Psychology); Family Relationship; Friends; Friendship; Humans; Internal-External Control; Interpersonal Competence; Interpersonal Relations; Mental Disorders; Mental Disorders - complications; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Health; Parenting Styles; Peer Group; Peer Relationship; Peer relationships; Psychology; Psychopathology; Research Needs; Social Adjustment; Social Cognition; Social Sciences; Social skills; Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
• ISSN: 1096-4037; 1573-2827
• DOI: 10.1007/s10567-012-0122-y

It is well established that children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently experience co-occurring mental health problems in addition to difficulties in their peer relationships. Although substantial research has focused on the extent to which peer functioning contributes to subsequent co-occurring mental health problems, much less research has considered how co-occurring mental health problems affect peer functioning domains. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to examine the effect of co-occurring mental health problems on the peer functioning of youth with ADHD. The impact of co-occurring externalizing (i.e., oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder) and internalizing (i.e., anxiety, depression) symptoms are reviewed, with a focus on whether these co-occurring symptoms exacerbate, attenuate, or have no effect across peer domains of social skills/competence, peer status, and friendship among youth with ADHD. Drawing from a developmental psychopathology framework, this review then draws attention to relevant causal processes and developmental cascades (including social-cognitive, affective, and family and parenting factors) in offering promising avenues for future work.