Abstract

JIN, Wen-Lan et al. ADHD symptoms in children aged 5 to 15 years in Zhabei District, Shanghai. Eur. J. Psychiat. [online]. 2016, vol.30, n.3, pp.173-182. ISSN 0213-6163.

Background and Objectives: The prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its related factors remains unclear in Shanghai.The aim of this study was to investigate the positive rates of ADHD symptoms and the associated factors in a sample of children aged 5 to 15 years in Zhabei District, Shanghai. Methods: The participants were selected by cluster-stratified sampling of the general information and responses gathered from questionnaires on ADHD symptoms. The questionnaires examined summed up to 9,627. The positive rates of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms and the socio-demographic factors were compared. Results: The positive rates of most ADHD symptoms decreased with age. Children between 5 and 7 years and between 7 and 9 years exhibited the highest ADHD positive rates. Boys showed a higher positive rate of ADHD symptoms compared to girls. Children who were local residents showed a higher rate than nonlocal residents and those of other nationalities. This might be related to the integration of immigrants and those belonging to lower socioeconomic classes. The positive rates of ADHD symptoms decreased with the educational level of the parents, while the parents'; level of education was associated with the severity of the ADHD symptoms. Problems of inattention were more common than problems of hyperactivity, as indicated by the positive rates. Conclusions: The improper educational guidance of ineffective parents, as well as simple and crude attitudes to education, may place children in such a conflicting state, gradually creating psychological problems and resulting in a lack of self-confidence and ADHD.

Keywords : ADHD; Symptoms; Children.

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