BackgroundThis study investigated associations among temperament, executive functioning (EF), and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom severity at two developmental stages.MethodsParticipants were 61 4‐year‐old children and 165 8–11‐year‐old children (126 ADHD, 39 typically developing [TD]). Caregivers reported on temperament (effortful control [EC], negative affect, and surgency), and ADHD symptoms. Three aspects of EF (working memory, inhibitory control, and processing speed) were measured with neuropsychological tests.ResultsAmong 4‐year‐olds, variance in ADHD symptom severity was only explained by the temperament variables. EC was not significantly correlated with any of the EFs in this cohort. Among school‐aged children, low EC, high surgency, high negative affect, and reduced working memory were associated with greater ADHD symptom severity. EC was significantly and positively correlated with processing speed in the school‐aged children.ConclusionsResults are consistent with a neurodevelopmental model of ADHD, wherein dysregulated temperament is associated with ADHD in young children, while both dysregulated temperament and cognitive skills are associated with ADHD in middle childhood. Results could inform the selection of clinical tools for diagnostic evaluation of pediatric ADHD symptoms and clinical follow‐up.

中文翻译：

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气质和执行功能与儿童早期和中期 ADHD 症状严重程度的相关性


背景本研究调查了两个发育阶段气质、执行功能 （EF） 和注意力缺陷/多动障碍 （ADHD） 症状严重程度之间的关联。方法参与者是 61 名 4 岁儿童和 165 名 8-11 岁儿童 （126 名 ADHD，39 名典型发展 [TD]）。照顾者报告了气质 （努力控制 [EC]、负面影响和手术）和 ADHD 症状。EF 的三个方面 （工作记忆、抑制控制和处理速度） 通过神经心理学测试进行测量。结果在 4 岁儿童中，ADHD 症状严重程度的差异仅由气质变量解释。EC 与该队列中的任何 EFs 均无显著相关性。在学龄儿童中，低 EC 、高手术率、高负面影响和工作记忆减少与 ADHD 症状严重程度较高相关。EC 与学龄儿童的处理速度呈显著正相关。结论结果与 ADHD 的神经发育模型一致，其中气质失调与幼儿 ADHD 相关，而气质失调和认知技能均与儿童中期 ADHD 相关。结果可以为选择用于儿科 ADHD 症状诊断评估和临床随访的临床工具提供信息。