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Examination of the Structure and Measurement of Inattentive, Hyperactive, and Impulsive Behaviors from Preschool to Grade 4

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Abstract

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex and heterogeneous disorder consisting of inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive behaviors. Although, the multidimensionality of ADHD is widely accepted, questions remain regarding the extent to which the components of this disorder are overlapping or distinct. Further, although the same measures are generally used to assess inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive behaviors across childhood, it has been argued that the structure and measurement of inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive behaviors may be susceptible to developmental influences. The purpose of this study was to examine the factor structure and measurement invariance of inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive behaviors in a large group of children (N = 10,047) ranging in grade level from preschool to grade 4. A bifactor model with a general factor and two specific factors of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity fit the data best. This finding held across all groups and all grade levels. In general, the bifactor model demonstrated measurement invariance from kindergarten through grade 4 but not for preschool. Implications for the understanding and measurement of inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive behaviors across early and middle childhood are discussed.

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Notes

  1. The potential impact of within-grade age on the findings was examined by calculating the amount of variance in item-level scores accounted for by age within grade. With few exceptions, age accounted for less than 1% in item-level scores across items. For most items, the amount of variance accounted for by age was less than .04%. Age ranges are as follows: Preschool: 39 months to 103 months; Kindergarten: 52 months to 107 months; Grade 1: 54 months to 107 months; Grade 2: 59 months to 124 months; 66 months to 139 months; Grade 4: 95 months to 148 months.

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Acknowledgements

This research and report was supported by grants from the Institute of Education Sciences, US Department of Education (R305F100027) and the Eunice Kennedy Schriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD052120). The views expressed herein are those of the authors and have not been reviewed or approved by the granting agency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Ohio University, 200 Porter Hall, Athens, OH, 45701, USA

    Darcey M. Allan

  2. Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4301, USA

    Christopher J. Lonigan

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  1. Darcey M. Allan
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Correspondence to Darcey M. Allan or Christopher J. Lonigan.

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Allan, D.M., Lonigan, C.J. Examination of the Structure and Measurement of Inattentive, Hyperactive, and Impulsive Behaviors from Preschool to Grade 4. J Abnorm Child Psychol 47, 975–987 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-018-0491-x

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