Doctoral Dissertation
University of Oregon

ATTENTION AND TRAUMATIC STRESS IN CHILDREN

Becker, Kathryn Anne
PhD
2002
Advisor: Freyd, Jennifer

Abstract:
Reports of increasing rates of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and stimulant treatment have alarmed clinicians, researchers and parents. Clinicians who treat abused children have been particularly concerned about misdiagnosis of ADHD. Dissociation is one response to trauma. Dissociative children have difficulty integrating aspects of their experience and may become distracted by internal thoughts, feelings or memories. Children with post-traumatic stress reactions may have similar experiences and may also experience hypervigilance, making it difficult for them to sit still and concentrate. Study 1 investigates relations between trauma reactions and attention/hyperactivity problems in a community sample of 80 preschool children who varied in their experiences with stressful life events. Trauma symptoms were related to ADHD symptoms. Study 1 also investigates differences in memory for threat-related and neutral stimuli presented to children under selective and divided attention. Similar to previous results for dissociative adults (A. DePrince and J. Freyd, 1999), traumatized preschoolers did not differ from non-traumatized preschoolers in memory under selective attention, but had poorer memory for threat-related stimuli under divided attention when compared to non-traumatized children in the same condition. Study 2 investigates relations between trauma reactions and attention/hyperactivity problems in a community sample of 29 8- to 11-year-olds whose parents reported ADHD symptoms and who varied in their experiences with stressful life events. In contrast to studies that have not included abused children, there were no sex differences in symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity. Parents reported non-abused boys' ADHD symptoms began much younger than non-abused girls' symptoms (10.3 months vs. 6.0 yrs.). Trauma symptoms were related to ADHD symptoms. More parents reported that their children's ADHD symptoms were due to chronic stress, as compared to beginning or worsening after a particular stressful event. Abused children were more likely than non-abused children to have a relative with ADHD symptoms. Abuse predicted ADHD symptoms. Abuse and ADHD symptoms independently predicted school performance. Results suggest that trauma plays a significant role in children's inattention and hyperactivity. Understanding how trauma affects children's attention, activity level and school functioning will improve the treatment and education of traumatized children.

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