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An epidemiological study of ADHD and conduct disorder: does family conflict moderate the association?

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Abstract

Purpose

To examine the role of family conflict in the relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder (CD).

Methods

A cross-sectional national population survey was carried out among 10,838 14–16 year old students in all secondary schools in Iceland. Three latent measures, financial status, ADHD and CD, and one observed measure, family structure, were included in the study. A structural equation model was used to evaluate direct effects between ADHD and CD for four different groups; females and males, experiencing family conflict and those not experiencing family conflict.

Results

ADHD was significantly and positively associated with CD for all groups. When controlling for financial status and family structure it was found that ADHD was positively and significantly associated with CD for adolescent females and males not experiencing family conflict as well as for those experiencing family conflict. The link between ADHD and CD was significantly stronger for those adolescents who had experienced family conflict compared to those who had not experienced family conflict. These results suggest that family conflict moderates the association between ADHD and CD for both girls and boys.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that family environment and ADHD symptoms are important when predicting CD among adolescent youth. Most notably, family conflict exacerbates the effects of ADHD symptoms on CD among both females and males.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University, Menntavegi 1, 101, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Inga Dora Sigfusdottir, Bryndis Bjork Asgeirsdottir, Hildigunnur Anna Hall, Jon Fridrik Sigurdsson, Susan Young & Gisli H. Gudjonsson

  2. Teacher’s College, Columbia University, 525 west, 120th street, Manhattan, NY, 10027, USA

    Inga Dora Sigfusdottir

  3. University of Iceland, Landspitali-The National University Hospital of Iceland, Hringbraut, 101, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Jon Fridrik Sigurdsson

  4. Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK

    Susan Young

  5. West London Mental Health, Broadmoor Hospital, Regional Secure Unit, St Bernard’s Hospital, Uxbridge Rd, Southall, UB1 3EU, UK

    Susan Young

  6. Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Centre for Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of London, 7th Floor Commonwealth Building, Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK

    Susan Young

  7. King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Gisli H. Gudjonsson

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  1. Inga Dora Sigfusdottir
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  2. Bryndis Bjork Asgeirsdottir
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  3. Hildigunnur Anna Hall
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  4. Jon Fridrik Sigurdsson
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  5. Susan Young
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  6. Gisli H. Gudjonsson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Inga Dora Sigfusdottir.

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Data was collected in accordance with the requirements of Iceland’s Privacy and Data Protection Authority, which include rules on anonymity and informed consent. The manuscript does not contain clinical studies or patient data.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Sigfusdottir, I.D., Asgeirsdottir, B.B., Hall, H.A. et al. An epidemiological study of ADHD and conduct disorder: does family conflict moderate the association?. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 52, 457–464 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1352-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1352-6

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