Characteristics of the Bullying in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Shin, Dong Won; Lee, Seung Min

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study examined clinical characteristics associated with bullying in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
METHODS
Children and their parents were asked to fill out a structured self-report form regarding bullying incidents. To evaluate the characteristics of the children, the results of the ADHD Rating Scale, the Korean version of the Child Behavior Checklist, the ADHD Diagnostic system and the Emotional Recognition Test were used. The agreement of bullying data between each child and their mother and father was measured using Cohen's kappa. The association between victim and perpetrator was analyzed by calculating a contingency coefficient based on chi-square. To compare the characteristics of victimized children and didn't, an independent sample T-test was performed.
RESULTS
When children were victims of bullying incidents there was significant agreement between children and parents on the information provided on the self-reports. However, more children reported themselves as a perpetrator of bullying than their parents did. Victimization, that is, the tendency towards being a perpetrator, is associated with the higher level of parental reports of aggressiveness.
CONCLUSION
Victimization of bullying is associated with aggression in children with ADHD. This study suggests that victimized children with ADHD warrant careful evaluation, in particular with regard to the credence placed on parental reports of aggressiveness, and management for aggression.