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Evidence for a General ADHD Factor from a Longitudinal General School Population Study

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Abstract

Recent factor analytic studies in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have shown that hierarchical models provide a better fit of ADHD symptoms than correlated models. A hierarchical model includes a general ADHD factor and specific factors for inattention, and hyperactivity/impulsivity. The aim of this 12-month longitudinal study was to test the generalizability of the hierarchical models of ADHD within an elementary school population of 6–9 year old children (250 boys, 260 girls). Examination of differences as a function of informant (parent vs. teacher ratings), sex, and time was conducted. Six potential factor structures for the 18 items of the SWAN (Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD-symptoms and Normal-behavior) scale were tested using confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses. Hierarchical models with a general ADHD factor and two or three specific factors best accounted for parent and teacher reports of symptoms for both boys and girls and at two time points separated by a 12-month interval. Findings indicate that the 18 SWAN items measure a common latent trait as well as orthogonal factors or dimensions of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.

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Notes

  1. A limitation of the exploratory factor model is that because of “rotational indeterminacy” (see, e.g., Fabrigar et al. 1999, p. 281), a two-factor model with a relatively high interfactor correlation and potentially very small cross-loadings cannot be mathematically distinguished from a rotation of the same model that produces a smaller interfactor correlation along with larger cross-loadings.

  2. Here we report skewness and kurtosis for total Inattention and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity scores for descriptive purposes. Skewness and kurtosis of individual items, as relevant to model-fitting analyses, are reported in the Data Analysis section.

  3. In this study, we offered no hypothesis regarding possible age effects given the very limited age range (6–9 years old) of our sample participants. However, post hoc analyses dividing the sample into grades 1, 2 and 3 yielded similar findings and provided evidence of the superiority of the hierarchical models, despite a smaller sample size (results available from authors).

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Acknowledgement

This research was financially supported by a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC #410-2008-1052) and the Canada Research Chair Program (RT). We express appreciation to the families and schools from the Peterborough Northumberland Clarington Catholic School Board and the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board who participated in our study. The dedicated assistance of Min-Na Hockenberry, Marisa Catapang, Peter Chaban, Sarah Anne Gray and Danielle Pigon is also gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure

Dr. Tannock has been a consultant for Eli Lilly, McNeil, Purdue, and Shire, for which she has received honoraria that are donated to The Hospital for Sick Children’s Foundation to support ADHD research. Drs. Normand, Flora and Toplak report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, Canada

    Sébastien Normand

  2. Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada

    David B. Flora & Maggie E. Toplak

  3. Neurosciences and Mental Health Research Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada

    Rosemary Tannock

  4. Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Rosemary Tannock

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  1. Sébastien Normand
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  2. David B. Flora
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  4. Rosemary Tannock
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Correspondence to Rosemary Tannock.

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Normand, S., Flora, D.B., Toplak, M.E. et al. Evidence for a General ADHD Factor from a Longitudinal General School Population Study. J Abnorm Child Psychol 40, 555–567 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-011-9584-5

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