Online and Intellectual Awareness of Executive Functioning in Daily Life among Adolescents with and without ADHD.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE\nExecutive function deficits (EFD) are a central mechanism underlying negative outcomes in ADHD. This study examined awareness of EFD manifested in real-time task performance (Online Awareness) and in general self-knowledge of daily activities, outside the context of a specific task (Intellectual Awareness) among adolescents with and without ADHD.\n\n\nMETHODS\n102 adolescents with (n\u2009=\u200952) and without (n\u2009=\u200950) ADHD were administered Weekly Calendar Planning Activity (WCPA) and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Parents completed the BRIEF parent version. Awareness was defined using the discrepancy paradigm: performance versus estimation on WCPA for online awareness; self versus parent report on the BRIEF for intellectual awareness.\n\n\nRESULTS\nAdolescents with ADHD overestimated their performance on the WCPA and underestimated their EFD on the BRIEF compared to parent s ratings. The discrepancy scores in both types of awareness were significantly larger among ADHD than controls (p\u2009<\u2009.005).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nAdolescents with ADHD demonstrate significantly lower rates of online and intellectual awareness of EFD compared to controls.