Insecure Attachment, Temperament, and Character Traits Associated With Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Children

Abstract

Objective: Based on the view that cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are distinct clinical conditions, we aimed to investigate differences between CDS and ADHD symptoms in terms of insecure attachment, temperament, and character traits in children.

Methods: We assessed 80 children with ADHD (24 girls and 56 boys, aged 9-12 years) through Turgay's DSM-IV Based ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Screening Scale, Barkley Child Attention Scale, Kerns Security Scale, and the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory. Exclusion criteria included the presence of other psychiatric disorders or neurological diseases.

Results: CDS was significantly correlated with age (r=0.280, p=0.012), ADHD-inattention (r=0.435, p<0.001), harm avoidance (HA) (r=0.302, p=0.006), and insecure attachment (r=-0.280, p=0.012). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that age (beta=1.459, p=0.031), ADHD-inattention (beta=0.528, p=0.001), and HA (beta=0.306, p=0.044) were significant predictors of CDS severity. ADHD-inattention was significantly associated with delayed speech onset (r=-0.252, p=0.024), CDS (r=0.435, p<0.001), and novelty seeking (r=0.250, p=0.025), whereas ADHD-hyperactivity/impulsivity had an inversely significant correlation with self-directedness (r=-0.233, p=0.038). Only CDS significantly predicted the severity of ADHD-inattention (beta=0.252, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Our findings may suggest that examining CDS and ADHD in terms of attachment styles, temperament and character traits may improve our understanding of the distinctions between these two constructs.

Keywords: Attachment; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Children; Cognitive disengagement syndrome; Temperament.