Developmental relations between ADHD and self-esteem: evaluating peer problems as a mediating mechanism

Previous research has suggested that adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms experience poorer self-esteem than their peers. Difficulties with peer problems may represent a key mediating mechanism. Using a large UK longitudinal study (the Millennium Cohort Study), we fit longitudinal mediation models (RI-CLPMs) across ages 11,14, and 17 (n = 4912 male, n = 4825 female) to examine the (bi-)directional relations among ADHD symptoms, peer problems, and self-esteem. We additionally examined the mediating role of peer problems in the developmental relation between ADHD symptoms and self-esteem. We found some evidence of reciprocal developmental associations between ADHD symptoms, peer problems, and self-esteem; however, peer problems did not mediate the links between ADHD symptoms and later self-esteem. Results suggest that there are inter-linkages between ADHD symptoms, peer problems and self-esteem that could be taken account of in interventions, such as addressing the self-esteem effects of peer problems in social skills interventions. Future research studies addressing the relations between ADHD symptoms, peer problems, and self-esteem over shorter time lags are also recommended.