Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in cultural context do parents in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom adopt different thresholds when rating symptoms, and if so why?

Article


Chan, W., Shum, K. and Sonuga-Barke, E. 2022. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in cultural context do parents in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom adopt different thresholds when rating symptoms, and if so why? International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research. 31 (3). https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.1923
TypeArticle
TitleAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in cultural context do parents in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom adopt different thresholds when rating symptoms, and if so why?
AuthorsChan, W., Shum, K. and Sonuga-Barke, E.
Abstract

Objectives
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) prevalence is similar across world regions. However, because informants' decision thresholds may vary between regions, these similarities may mask regional variations in actual ADHD behaviours. We tested this by comparing the relationship between informant's ratings and children's measured activity in United Kingdom (UK) and Hong Kong (HK) and then explored whether any national differences in endorsement thresholds discovered are linked to cultural variations in parenting factors.
Methods
Parents rated the 18 ADHD symptoms in 112 three-to-five-year-old children stratified for ADHD symptom levels (49 girls and 63 boys; 55 from the UK and 57 from HK) and completed some parenting questionnaires. Children's task-related activity was measured using actometers.
Results
In both groups, measured activity was positively correlated with hyperactivity/impulsivity (r = 0.44HK; r = 0.41UK). While HK children were less active than UK children (p < 0.01), HK parents rated their children as more hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive (ps < 0.05). The lower rating threshold indicated by this pattern in HK parents were explained by their higher child-related stress levels.
Conclusions
UK and HK parents operated different ADHD symptom endorsement thresholds. The link between these and child-related stress may mark a more general role of cultural pressure for child conformity and school achievement in HK.

Keywordsattention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; cross-cultural study; parenting; rating threshold; social norms
Sustainable Development Goals3 Good health and well-being
Middlesex University ThemeHealth & Wellbeing
PublisherWiley
JournalInternational Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research
ISSN1049-8931
Electronic1557-0657
Publication dates
Online07 Jun 2022
Print10 Sep 2022
Publication process dates
Submitted14 Jan 2022
Accepted20 May 2022
Deposited11 Apr 2024
Output statusPublished
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Copyright Statement

© 2022 The Authors. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.1923
Web of Science identifierWOS:000807059100001
LanguageEnglish
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