Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is more common in families with lower social and economic statuses, according to research published November 26. Children with ADHD were more likely to come from poor families, one-parent families and families in social housing, report researchers from the University of Exeter Medical School in England.
"There is a genetic element to ADHD, but this study provides strong evidence that ADHD is also associated with a disadvantaged social and economic background. Some people believe that ADHD in children causes disadvantage to the economic situation of their family, but we found no evidence to support that theory,” said Dr. Ginny Russell who led the study.
ADHD was also more frequent among younger mothers and mothers without college degrees. The average age of mothers, at the time of delivery of the children later diagnosed with ADHD, was 26 years. In comparison, the average age of mothers in the United Kingdom's general population was 28 years.
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What is ADHD?
ADHD is one of the most common learning disabilities according to the National Center for Learning Disabilities. The symptoms of ADHD include:
- difficulty paying attention or concentrating
- impulsivness
- problems sitting still
- organizational issues
- trouble with behavior
ADHD is often treated with medication and/or behavioral therapy.
A US study on income and ADHD
The findings of this United Kingdom (U.K.) study are consistent with other studies on ADHD and socioeconomic status. A 2011 U.S. study found the rate of ADHD diagnoses increasing among poor children. More children in families at or below the federal poverty level were being diagnosed with ADHD than wealthier families.
Background of the UK study
Researchers in the U.K. study analyzed data from more than 19,000 children over a 7-year period. The children in the study were born between 2000 and 2002. The children's information came from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS). The MCS is a research project following a group of children born in the United Kingdom between 2000 and 2002.
More information on ADHD is available from the American Psychiatric Association and the Mayo Clinic.
The study, “The association of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with socioeconomic disadvantage: alternative explanations and evidence,” is published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
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This article was originally published by me on Examiner.com.
©Mary M Conneely T/A Advocacy in Action
It's not income, it's what the income gets, and doesn't get... check out environmental justice.
ReplyDeleteI submit that noise and exposure to other environmental toxins is a big part of the picture. Studies have shown exposure to excessive noise - even in utero - will result in ASD and ADHD-like expressions in children. People with money do not live in noisy areas. People with money who chose to live in noisy areas have the wherewithal to mitigate the impact.