Why is there a gender gap in children presenting for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder services?

J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2009 Sep;38(5):650-60. doi: 10.1080/15374410903103627.

Abstract

This study addressed why girls are less likely to be referred for mental health services for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than boys. Ninety-six parents of children with elevated ADHD symptoms and 140 elementary school teachers read vignettes about children with ADHD. Half of the participants read vignettes with boys' names, and half read the same vignettes but with girls' names. Participants then rated their likeliness to seek or recommend services for the child in each vignette. Parents and teachers were less likely to seek or recommend services for girls than boys with ADHD, but results did not support the hypothesis that this is because girls are less disruptive than boys. Rather, differences in service seeking were explained by the fact that parents and teachers believed that learning assistance is less effective for girls than boys with ADHD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attention
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / epidemiology*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / therapy
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Faculty*
  • Female
  • Health Services Accessibility*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Health Services
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Prejudice*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Distribution
  • Sex Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires