2008-12-01
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms mediate early-onset smoking
Publication
Publication
European Addiction Research , Volume 15 - Issue 1 p. 1- 9
Background/Aims: Symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have often been associated with early-onset smoking. We hypothesize that reductions in ADHD symptoms due to an intervention have a mediating effect on early-onset smoking. Methods: In a universal, school-based, randomized controlled intervention trial, we examined whether intervention-induced reductions in ADHD symptoms at age 9 mediated the reduced risk of tobacco use onset among these children at age 10 or 11 years. A sample of 477 first-grade boys and girls were randomly assigned to the Good Behavior Game intervention (n = 263), a 2-year (grades 2 and 3) universal classroom-based intervention aimed at reducing disruptive behavior problems, or to a control condition (n = 214). ADHD symptoms were assessed through teacher ratings. Early onset of tobacco use was assessed through self-report. Results: The intervention-induced reductions in ADHD symptoms fully mediated the distal effect of intervention on reductions in early-onset smoking. Conclusions: Our results showed that programs that target ADHD symptoms may protect children from early-onset smoking as well. Further research is needed to examine pathways from ADHD symptoms to tobacco use. Copyright
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doi.org/10.1159/000173003, hdl.handle.net/1765/30137 | |
European Addiction Research | |
Organisation | Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam |
Huizink, A., van Lier, P., & Crijnen, A. (2008). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms mediate early-onset smoking. European Addiction Research, 15(1), 1–9. doi:10.1159/000173003 |