Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Perfectionism in Youth: A Multi-Informant Perspective

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent and chronic issue among youth. Establishing links between psychological disorders, such as ADHD, and personality constructs provides valuable information relative to understanding vulnerabilities, development, prognosis, and treatment outcomes. With an increasing awareness of the maladaptive nature of perfectionism, it is important to expand the evaluation of personality and ADHD to include perfectionism. The current study examined the potential relations between perfectionism and ADHD symptoms in a sample of 574 youth from the McMaster Teen Study from Grade 7 to Grade 12. Using path analysis, results indicated that ADHD symptoms predicted decreases in self-oriented perfectionism at every time point with one exception (Grade 11 to 12). Findings for the relation between socially prescribed perfectionism and ADHD symptoms were mixed; although socially prescribed perfectionism predicted ADHD symptoms at one time point, ADHD symptoms predicted decreases in socially prescribed perfectionism the following year. Clinical implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed. iv ADHD AND PERFECTIONISM Table of