The Direct/Indirect Association of ADHD/ODD Symptoms with Self-esteem, Self-perception, and Depression in Early Adolescents

• Published in: Frontiers in psychiatry Vol. 8; p. 137
• Main Authors: Kita, Yosuke, Inoue, Yuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 31.07.2017
• Subjects: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; depression; oppositional defiant disorder; Psychiatry; self-esteem; structural equation modeling; attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; oppositional defiant disorder; self-esteem; depression; structural equation modeling
• ISSN: 1664-0640; 1664-0640
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00137

The present study aimed to reveal the influences of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms on self-esteem and self-perception during early adolescence and to clarify the spillover effect of self-esteem on depressive symptoms. ADHD symptoms in 564 early adolescents were evaluated teacher-rating scales. Self-esteem and depressive symptoms were assessed self-reported scales. We analyzed the relationships among these symptoms using structural equation modeling. Severe inattentive symptoms decreased self-esteem and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms affected self-perception for non-academic domains. Although these ADHD symptoms did not directly affect depressive symptoms, low self-esteem led to severe depression. ODD symptoms had a direct impact on depression without the mediating effects of self-esteem. These results indicated that inattentive symptoms had a negative impact on self-esteem and an indirect negative effect on depressive symptoms in adolescents, even if ADHD symptoms were subthreshold. Severe ODD symptoms can be directly associated with depressive symptoms during early adolescence.