IS SELF-ESTEEM AN IMPORTANT OUTCOME IN HYPERACTIVE-CHILDREN

Using a prospective design, this study examined (a) whether hyperactiv e children suffer from low self-esteem as adolescents; (b) whether low self-esteem is associated with poor functioning in adolescence; (c) w hether hyperactive children exhibit a positive illusory bias, in which self-esteem is independent of level of functioning; and (d) whether s elf-esteem in adolescence is associated with poor functioning in adult hood. Subjects were 65 children diagnosed as hyperactive in childhood, and 62 matched controls sampled from a medical clinic. After controll ing for current mental disorder the hyperactive cohort reported lower self-esteem in adolescence, was judged by clinicians to have lower lev els of overall adjustment in adolescence, and had lower educational ac hievement and occupational rank in adulthood, as compared to controls.