Research appearing in February's Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology shows that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to be bullies--and to have been bullied.
The study followed 577 Swedish fourth graders for one year, interviewing parents and teachers to identify children who showed signs of ADHD. Children with symptoms were sent to a neurologists for a clinical assessment. Overall, 9.5 percent of boys and 1.6 percent of girls were diagnosed with the disorder.
When children completed interviews and questionnaires about bullying, researchers found that children with ADHD were four times more likely to be bullies than other children. Being a bully and having ADHD was also associated with behavioral problems when children entered first grade.
Surprisingly, researchers found that bullying also played a strong role in the development of the disorder: Children with ADHD were ten times more likely to have been the regularly targeted by bullies--before symptoms of the disorder appeared.
These results shed light on the complicated relationship between ADHD symptoms and peer interaction, say researchers. Prior research has identified low self-control associated with ADHD as a risk factor for both bullying and being bullied. Some children may channel excess energy into aggression or act out frustrations related to ADHD by bullying. Being bullied, meanwhile, may exacerbate learning problems and cause some children to react by inflicting the same behaviors on others. While ADHD medications may help children focus on learning, parental and school interventions are often necessary to address the underlying emotional issues that come with both ADHD and bullying.
ABSTRACT: Bullying and attention-deficit- hyperactivity disorder in 10-year-olds in a Swedish community
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