Risk-taking propensity and sensitivity to punishment in adolescents with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder symptoms and/or reading disability

Kei Yan POON, Connie Suk-Han HO

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlespeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Many studies reported that adolescents with ADHD/RD more frequently engage in risk-taking behaviors. Very few have examined their risk taking patterns and the impact of their comorbidity. The present study compared the risk-taking propensity, sensitivity to punishment and delinquency outcome in Chinese adolescents with ADHD symptoms (AS) and/or RD using a simulated risk task, the Balloon Analogous Risk Task (BART). Adolescents with AS (n = 37), RD (n = 35), AS + RD (n = 35), and control (n = 36) were recruited from local secondary schools. Results showed that adolescents with ADHD, despite their great risk-taking propensity, were sensitive to immediate punishment whereas adolescents with RD were found to display normal risk-taking propensity, yet showed a tendency of being less sensitive to punishment. The comorbidity ADHD + RD group had the highest delinquency score, and exhibited greatest risk taking and least sensitivity to punishment, which provided further support that comorbid condition might have stronger impact on risk taking or even delinquency than the pure groups. The present findings provides a useful picture of the risk taking pattern associated with different groups, allowing for effective matching for future prevention and intervention program. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)296-304
JournalResearch in Developmental Disabilities
Volume53-54
Early online dateMar 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Citation

Poon, K., & Ho, C. S.-H. (2016). Risk-taking propensity and sensitivity to punishment in adolescents with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder symptoms and/or reading disability. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 53-54, 296-304.

Keywords

  • Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder
  • Reading disability
  • Comorbidity
  • Delinquency
  • Risk taking

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