Investigation of the Effect of Executive Functioning and ADHD Symptoms on Chronotype in Children
Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, cilt.2026, sa.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 2026 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1155/ppc/4017046
- Dergi Adı: Perspectives in Psychiatric Care
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Pharma Collection (ProQuest), Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection (EBSCO)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: ADHD, adolescent, child, chronotype, COVID-19, emotional control, executive functions
- Çukurova Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objective: This study examined associations among chronotype, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom severity, and everyday executive functioning in children and adolescents with ADHD during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also explored whether emotional-control difficulties statistically accounted for part of the association between hyperactivity symptoms and chronotype. Methods: This single-center cross-sectional study included 74 children and adolescents with ADHD and their parents. Parent-reported executive-function difficulties were assessed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), ADHD symptoms using the Conners′ Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Long Form (CPRS-R/L), and chronotype using the Children’s Chronotype Questionnaire (CCQ). Group comparisons were conducted using independent-samples t tests and chi-square tests. An exploratory generalized estimating equations (GEEs)-based pathway analysis examined the statistical indirect association through emotional-control difficulties. Results: Children with ADHD and an evening chronotype had significantly higher CPRS-R/L DSM-IV hyperactivity/impulsivity (p = 0.039), oppositional (p = 0.030), and DSM-IV total (p = 0.044) symptom scores than children with a non-evening chronotype. They also showed significantly greater BRIEF emotional-control (p = 0.028) and initiation (p = 0.027) difficulties. In the subgroup with family COVID-19 exposure, the GEE analysis identified a statistically significant indirect pathway through emotional-control difficulties (Sobel z = −2.15, p = 0.030). Conclusion: Eveningness was associated with greater parent-reported ADHD symptom severity and difficulties in selected executive-function domains. Emotional control emerged as a clinically relevant statistical correlate; however, the cross-sectional design does not permit temporal or causal conclusions.