Cortisol Reactivity as a Mediator of Peer Victimization on Child Internalizing and Externalizing Problems: The Role of Gender Differences

Abstract Background Studies on gender differences in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comorbidities in the Asian populations have been limited and previous studies have shown inconclusive findings. Singapore is a city-state country in Southeast Asia with a population of 5.7 million. This study examined gender differences in internalizing and externalizing problems in Singaporean children and adolescents with ADHD. The plausible social factors underlying the gender differences were discussed. Methods A total of 773 participants (aged 6 to 18, 88% males) newly diagnosed with ADHD were recruited from the largest public child and adolescent psychiatric center in Singapore. Their internalizing and externalizing problems were assessed using the Child Behavioral Checklist and Teacher’s Report Form by parents and teachers respectively. Demographics and relevant social factors were collected using parent questionnaires. Results Females with ADHD were reported to have less delinquent and aggressive behavior but more depressive symptoms than their male counterparts, similar to findings in the Western literature. Gender remained a significant predictor of externalizing problem after controlling for other factors. Lower socioeconomic status and parental use of physical punishment were significant predictors of both internalizing and externalizing problems. Conclusions Gender differences in ADHD comorbidities do exist in the Asian clinical population. The lack of externalizing symptoms in females with ADHD has made timely referral and diagnosis challenging. More research is needed in understanding the gender differences in ADHD and the biopsychosocial mechanism underlying the differences in order to improve the detection of ADHD in females.

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Gender differences in externalizing and internalizing problems in Singaporean children and adolescents with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder

10.21203/rs.3.rs-47463/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tsz Wing Ivy Lau ◽

Choon Guan Lim ◽

Sanchalika Acharryya ◽

Nikki Lim-Ashworth ◽

Yi Ren Tan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Social Factors ◽

Externalizing Problems ◽

Physical Punishment ◽

Internalizing And Externalizing Problems ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Internalizing And Externalizing

Abstract Background: Studies on gender differences in attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comorbidities in the Asian populations have been limited and previous studies have shown inconclusive findings. Singapore is a city-state country in Southeast Asia with a population of 5.7 million. This study examined gender differences in internalizing and externalizing problems in Singaporean children and adolescents with ADHD. The plausible social factors underlying the gender differences were discussed.Methods: A total of 773 participants (aged 6 to 18, 88% males) newly diagnosed with ADHD were recruited from the largest public child and adolescent psychiatric center in Singapore. Their internalizing and externalizing problems were assessed using the Child Behavioral Checklist and Teacher’s Report Form by parents and teachers respectively. Demographics and relevant social factors were collected using parent questionnaires.Results: Females with ADHD were reported to have less delinquent and aggressive behavior but more depressive symptoms than their male counterparts, similar to findings in the Western literature. Older age, lower socioeconomic status and parental use of physical punishment were associated with higher internalizing and externalizing problems after controlling for other factors.Conclusions: Gender differences in ADHD comorbidities do exist in the Asian clinical population. The lack of externalizing symptoms in females with ADHD has made timely referral and diagnosis challenging. More research is needed in understanding the gender differences in ADHD and the biopsychosocial mechanism underlying the differences in order to improve the detection of ADHD in females.

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The Self and Mental Health: Self-Salience and the Emergence of Internalizing and Externalizing Problems

Journal of Health and Social Behavior ◽

10.1177/002214650504600402 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 46 (4) ◽

pp. 323-340 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

Sarah Rosenfield ◽

Mary Clare Lennon ◽

Helene Raskin White

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Social Relations ◽

Externalizing Problems ◽

Internalizing Symptoms ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Externalizing Behaviors ◽

The Self ◽

Internalizing And Externalizing Problems ◽

Internalizing And Externalizing

How do schemas about self-salience—the importance of the self versus the collective in social relations—affect mental health? We propose that self-salience shapes the likelihood of experiencing internalizing or externalizing problems. Schemas that privilege others over the self increase the risk of internalizing symptoms, including depressive symptoms and anxiety, whereas those that privilege the self over others predispose individuals to externalizing behaviors of antisocial behavior and substance abuse. Furthermore, we propose that these schemas contribute to the gender differences that exist in these problems. We test these predictions with data from adolescents, the stage at which these problems and the gender differences in them arise. Results show that self-salience underlies both internalizing and externalizing problems. In addition, schemas about self-salience help explain the gender differences found in mental health problems.

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Gender differences in externalizing and internalizing problems in Singaporean children and adolescents with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder

10.21203/rs.3.rs-47463/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tsz Wing Ivy Lau ◽

Choon Guan Lim ◽

Sanchalika Acharryya ◽

Nikki Lim-Ashworth ◽

Yi Ren Tan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Social Factors ◽

Externalizing Problems ◽

Physical Punishment ◽

Internalizing And Externalizing Problems ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Internalizing And Externalizing

Abstract Background : Studies on gender differences in attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comorbidities in the Asian populations have been limited and previous studies have shown inconclusive findings. Singapore is a city-state country in Southeast Asia with a population of 5.7 million. This study examined gender differences in internalizing and externalizing problems in Singaporean children and adolescents with ADHD. The plausible social factors underlying the gender differences were discussed. Methods : A total of 773 participants (aged 6 to 18, 88% males) newly diagnosed with ADHD were recruited from the only public child and adolescent psychiatric center in Singapore. Their internalizing and externalizing problems were assessed using the Child Behavioral Checklist and Teacher’s Report Form by parents and teachers respectively. Demographics and relevant social factors were collected using parent questionnaires. Results : Females with ADHD were reported to have less delinquent and aggressive behavior but more depressive symptoms than their male counterparts, similar to findings in the Western literature. Older age, lower socioeconomic status and parental use of physical punishment were associated with higher internalizing and externalizing problems after controlling for other factors. Conclusions: Gender differences in ADHD comorbidities do exist in the Asian clinical population. This suggests a need for gender-specific assessment of ADHD as females do not present with much externalizing problem which makes identification more difficult.

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