Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in cultural context II: a comparison of the links between ADHD symptoms and waiting-related responses in Hong Kong and UK

Article


Chan, W., Shum, K., Downs, J., Liu, N. and Sonuga-Barke, E. 2024. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in cultural context II: a comparison of the links between ADHD symptoms and waiting-related responses in Hong Kong and UK. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-024-02506-7
TypeArticle
TitleAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in cultural context II: a comparison of the links between ADHD symptoms and waiting-related responses in Hong Kong and UK
AuthorsChan, W., Shum, K., Downs, J., Liu, N. and Sonuga-Barke, E.
Abstract

The concept of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is considered to have cross-cultural validity, but direct comparisons of its psychological characteristics across cultures are limited. This study investigates whether preschool children’s ADHD symptoms expressed in two cultures with different views about child behaviour and parenting, Hong Kong and the UK, show the same pattern of associations with their waiting-related abilities and reactions, an important marker of early self-regulation. A community sample of 112 preschoolers (mean age = 46.22 months; 55 from UK, 57 from HK) completed three tasks measuring different waiting elements – waiting for rewards, choosing the amount of time to wait, and having to wait unexpectedly when a task is interrupted. Participants’ waiting-related behavioural and emotional reactions were coded. Parents rated their children’s ADHD symptoms and delay aversion. Our findings revealed that the associations between ADHD symptoms and waiting-related responses were comparable in both UK and HK samples. This suggests that the core psychological characteristics of ADHD, particularly in relation to waiting behaviours, may exhibit similarity across cultural contexts. Future research can extend this cross-cultural analysis to other ADHD-related psychological domains and explore additional cultural settings.

KeywordsWaiting; Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); Delay aversion; Preschoolers; self-regulation; cross-cultural
Sustainable Development Goals3 Good health and well-being
Middlesex University ThemeHealth & Wellbeing
PublisherSpringer
JournalEuropean Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
ISSN1018-8827
Electronic1435-165X
Publication dates
Online27 Jun 2024
Publication process dates
Submitted14 Nov 2023
Accepted17 Jun 2024
Deposited15 Jul 2024
Output statusPublished
Publisher's version
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File Access Level
Open
Copyright Statement

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-024-02506-7
Web of Science identifierWOS:001257018100001
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