Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prosocial behavior in hyperactive boys: Effects of stimulant medication and comparison with normal boys

  • Published:
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To clarify the effects of stimulant medication on hyperactive (ADHD) children's prosocial as well as aversive behaviors toward peers, 19 hyperactive boys, aged 7–12, were observed as they acted as “leaders” for groups of 2–4 unfamiliar younger children. In a doubleblind crossover design, subjects were observed twice, once on placebo and again on a moderate (0.6 mg/kg) dose of methylphenidate (Ritalin). Thirteen comparison boys, without problems in attention and behavior, were also observed in the same leader roles. Relative to comparison boys, hyperactive boys on placebo were more socially engaged, used more aversive leadership techniques, and were rated as less likable by the younger children in their groups. Aversive social behaviors were the strongest predictors of being disliked by the younger children. No differences were found between comparison and unmedicated hyperactive boys for any aspect of prosocial behavior. Stimulant medication had a general dampening effect on social behavior, significantly reducing social engagement and increasing (mild) dysphoria relative to the placebo condition. The implications of these findings for understanding and treating the peer relationship difficulties of hyperactive children are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackerman, P. T., Elardo, P. T., & Dykman, R. A. (1979). A psychosocial study of hyperactivity and learning-disabled boys.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 7, 91–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asher, S. R. (1983). Social competence and peer status: Recent advances and future directions.Child Development, 54, 1427–1434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barkley, R. A. (1985). The social behavior of hyperactive children: Developmental changes, drug effects, and situational variation. In R. McMahon & R. Peters (Eds.),Childhood disorders (pp. 218–243). New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barkley, R. A. (1990).Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barkely, R. A., & Cunningham, C. E. (1979). The effects of Ritalin on mother-child interactions of hyperactive children.Archives of General Psychiatry, 36, 201–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berler, E. S., Gross, A. M., & Drabman, R. S. (1982). Social skills training with children: Proceed with caution.Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 15, 41–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buhrmester, D., MacDonald, V., & Heller, T. (1989, April).Social goals and sociometric status of hyperactive and normal boys. Paper presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Kansas City.

  • Campbell, S. B., & Paulauskas, S. (1979). Peer relations in hyperactive children.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 20, 233–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cantwell, D. P., & Carlson, G. A. (1978). Stimulants. In J. S. Werry (Ed.),Pediatric psychopharmacology: The use of behavior modifying drugs in children (pp. 171–207). New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coie, J. D., Dodge, K. A., & Kupersmidt, J. B. (1990). Peer group behavior and social status. In S. R. Asher & J. D. Coie (Eds.),Peer rejection in childhood (pp. 17–59). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coie, J. D., & Koeppl, K. (1990). Adapting intervention to the problems of aggressive and disruptive rejected children. In S. R. Asher & J. D. Coie (Eds.),Peer rejection in childhood (pp. 309–337). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coie, J. D., & Kupersmidt, J. B. (1983). A behavioral analysis of emerging social status in boys' groups.Child Development, 54, 1400–1416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conners, C. K. (1973). Rating scales for use in drug studies with children.Psychopharmacology Bulletin (Special issue: Pharmacotherapy of children), 24–84.

  • Conners, C. K., & Taylor, E. (1980). Pemoline, methylphenidate, and placebo in children with minimal brain dysfunction.Archives of General Psychiatry, 37, 922–930.

    Google Scholar 

  • Copeland, A. (1979). Types of private speech produced by hyperactive and nonhyperactive boys.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 7, 169–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests.Psychometrika, 16, 297–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, C. E., & Siegel, L. S. (1987). Peer interactions of normal and attention-deficitdisabled boys during free-play, cooperative-task, and simulated classroom situations.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 15, 247–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodge, K. A., & Richards, B. A. (1985). Peer perceptions, aggression, and the development of peer relations. In J. B. Pryor & D. Day (Eds.),The development of social cognition (pp. 35–58). New York: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster, S. L., DeLawyer, D. D., & Guevremont, D. C. (1985). Selecting targets for social skills training with children and adolescents.Advances in Learning and Behavioral Disabilities (Vol. 4, pp. 77–132). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gittelman-Klein, R., Klein, D. F., Katz, S., Saraf, K., & Pollack, E. (1976). Comparative effects of methylphenidate and thioridazine in hyperkinetic children.Archives of General Psychiatry, 33, 1217–1231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goyette, C. E., Conners, C. K., & Ulrich, R. F. (1978). Normative data on revised Conners Parent and Teacher Rating Scales.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 8, 471–490.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartup, W. W. (1989). Behavioral manifestations of children's friendships. In T. J. Berndt & G. W. Ladd (Eds.),Peer relationship in child development (pp. 46–70). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henker, B., & Whalen, C. (1989). Hyperactivity and attention deficits.American Psychologist, 44, 216–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herjanic, B. (1981).The Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents: Parent version (DICA-P). St. Louis: Washington University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinshaw, S. P., Buhrmester, D., & Heller, T. (1989). Anger control in response to verbal provocation: Effects of stimulant medication for boys with ADHD.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.17, 393–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinshaw, S. P., Henker, B., Whalen, C. K., Erhardt, D. D., & Dunnington, R. E., Jr. (1989). Aggression, prosocial, and nonsocial behavior in hyperactive boys: Dose effects of methylphenidate in naturalistic settings.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57, 636–643.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinshaw, S. P., & McHale, J. P. (1991). Stimulant medication and the social interactions of hyperactive children: Effects and implications. In D. G. Gilbert & J. J. Conley (Eds.),Personality, social skills, and psychopathology: An individual differences approach (pp. 229–252). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, P. C. (1991).Child and adolescent therapy: Cognitive-behavioral procedures. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, A. R., & Young, R. D. (1979). Hyperactive boys in their classroom: Assessment of teacher and peer perceptions, interactions, and classroom behaviors.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 7, 425–442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loney, J. (1987). Hyperactivity and aggression in the diagnosis of attention deficit disorder. In B. B. Lahey & A. E. Kazdin (Eds.),Advances in clinical child psychology (Vol. 10, pp. 99–135). New York, Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, K. B. (1988).Social and personality development: An evolutionary synthesis. New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mash, E. J., & Dalby, J. T. (1979). Behavioral interventions for hyperactivity. In R. L. Trites (Ed.),Hyperactivity in children: Etiology, measurement, and treatment implications (pp. 161–216). Baltimore: University Park Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milich, R., & Landau, S. (1982). Socialization and peer relations in hyperactive children. In K. D. Gadow & I. Bialer (Eds.),Advances in learning and behavioral disabilities: A research annual (Vol. 1, pp. 283–339). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, D. A., Pelham, W. E., & Lang, A. R. (in press). CNS stimulant effects on aggression in ADD and ADD/aggressive children.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.

  • Paulauskas, S. L., & Campbell, S. B. (1979). Social perspective-taking and teacher ratings of peer interactions in hyperactive boys.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 7, 483–493.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelham, W. E., & Bender, M. E. (1982). Peer relationships in hyperactive children: Description and treatment. In K. D. Gadow & I. Bialer (Eds.),Advances in learning and behavioral disabilities: A research annual (Vol. 1). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelham, W. E., & Hoza, J. (1987). Behavioral assessment of psychostimulant effects on ADD children in a summer day treatment program. In R. Prinz (Ed.),Advances in behavioral assessment of children and families (Vol. 3, pp. 3–34). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelham, W. E., & Murphy, D. A. (1988).Disruptive Behavior Disorders Checklist. Unpublished manuscript, University of Pittsburgh.

  • Pelham, W. E., Ronnei, M., Bender, M., & Schnelder, T. (1979, January).The effects of methylphenidate on the peer interactions of hyperactive children. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Houston.

  • Pelham, W. E., Sturges, J., Hoza, J., Schmidt, C., Bijlsma, J. J. Milich, R., & Moorer, S. (1987). Sustained release and standard methylphenidate effects on cognitive and social behavior in children with attention deficit disorder.Pediatrics 80, 491–501.

    Google Scholar 

  • Putallaz, M. (1983). Predicting children's sociometric status from their behavior.Child Development 54, 1417–1426.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radke-Yarrow, M., Zahn-Waxier, C., & Chapman, M. (1983). Children's prosocial dispositions and behavior. In E. M. Hetherington (Ed.),Handbook of child psychology (Vol. 4, pp. 469–545). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rapoport, J. L. (1979). The “real” and “ideal” management of stimulant drug treatment of hyperactive children: Recent findings and a report from clinical practice. In C. K. Whalen & B. Henker (Eds.),Hyperactive children: The social ecology of identification and treatment (pp. 247–258). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rie, H. E., Rie, E. D., Stewart, S., & Ambuel, J. P. (1976). Effects of methylphenidate on underachieving children.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psycholgoy 44, 250–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schleifer, M., Weiss, G., Cohen, N., Elman, M., Cvejic, H., & Kruger, E. (1975). Hyperactivity in preschoolers and the effect of methylphenidate.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 45, 38–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shrout, P. E., & Fleiss, J. L. (1979). Intraclass correlations: Uses in assessing rater reliability.Psychological Bulletin 86, 420–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stogdill, R. M. (1974).Handbook of leadership: A survey of theory and research. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, J., Nolan, W., & Pelham, W. (1981, August).The SNAP rating scale of the diagnosis of the attention deficit disorder. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Los Angeles.

  • Wallander, J. L., Schroeder, S. R., Michelli, J. A., & Gualtieri, C. T. (1987). Classroom social interactions of attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity children as a function of stimulant medication.Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 12, 61–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen, C. K. (1989). Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. In T. H. Ollendick & M. Hersen (Eds.),Handbook of child psychopathology (2nd ed., pp. 131–169). Plenum Press.

  • Whalen, C. K., Collins, B. E., Henker, B., Alkus, S. R., Adams, D., & Stapp, J. (1978). Behavior observations of hyperactive children and methylphenidate (Ritalin) effects in systematically structured classroom environments: Now you see them, now you don't.Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 3, 177–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen, C. K., & Hanker, B. (1984). Hyperactivity and the attention deficit disorders: Expanding frontiers.Pediatric Clinics of North America, 31, 397–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen, C. K., & Henker, B. (1985). The social worlds of hyperactive (ADDH) children.Clinical Psychology Review, 5, 1–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen, C. K., & Henker, B. (1991). The social impact of stimulant treatment of hyperactive children.Journal of Learning Disabilities, 24, 231–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen, C. K., Henker, B., Buhrmester, D., Hinshaw, S. P., Huber, A., & Laski, K. (1989). Does stimulant medication improve the peer status of hyperactive children?Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57, 545–549.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen, C. K., Henker, B., Collins, B. E., Finck, D., & Dotemoto, S. (1979). A social ecology of hyperactive boys: Medication effects in structured classroom environments.Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 12, 65–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen, C. K., Henker, B., Collins, B. E., McAuliffe, S., & Vaux, A. (1979). Peer interaction in a structured communication task: Comparisons of normal and hyperactive boys and methylphenidate (Ritalin) and placebo effects.Child Development, 52, 388–401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen, C. K., Henker, B., Dotemoto, S., Vaux, A., & McAuliffe, S. (1981). Hyperactivity and methylphenidate: Peer communication styles. In K. D. Gadow & J. Loney (Eds.),Psychosocial aspects of drug treatment of hyperactivity (pp. 295–324). Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen, C. K., Henker, B., & Granger, D. A. (1989). Ratings of medication effects in hyperactive children: Viable or vulnerable?Behavioral Assessment, 11, 179–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen, C. K., Henker, B., Granger, D. A. (1990). Social judgment processes in hyperactive boys: Effects of methylphenidate and comparisons with normal peers.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 18, 297–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whalen, C. K., Henker, B., & Granger, D. A., & Hollingshed, J. (1991, June).Peer interactions of normal and ADHD boys: Stimulant medication effects on affect and behavior patterns. Poster presented at the meeting of the Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, Zandvoort, Netherlands.

  • Whalen, C. K., Henker, B., Swanson, J. M., Granger, D., Kliewer, W., & Spencer, J. (1987). Natural social behaviors in hyperactive children: Dose effects of methylphenidate.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 187–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winer, B. J. (1971).Statistical principles in experimental design (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California

    Carol K. Whalen

  2. University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

    Barbara Henker & Virginia MacDonald

  3. University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California

    Stephen P. Hinshaw

  4. School of Human Development GR41, University of Texas at Dallas, 75083, Richardson, Texas

    Duane Buhrmester

Authors
  1. Duane Buhrmester
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Carol K. Whalen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Barbara Henker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Virginia MacDonald
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Stephen P. Hinshaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This study was conducted at the Fernald Child Study Center, UCLA, and we very much appreciate the contributions of the many staff members of the program, especially those of Alice Huber-Dressler and Tracy Heller. We also are very grateful to staff and children of Corinne A. Seeds University Elementary School for their participation in this study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Buhrmester, D., Whalen, C.K., Henker, B. et al. Prosocial behavior in hyperactive boys: Effects of stimulant medication and comparison with normal boys. J Abnorm Child Psychol 20, 103–121 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00927119

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00927119

Keywords

Search

Navigation